Premiership Captains Chelsea Randall and Erin Phillips have become the first AFLW players to be awarded Adelaide Football Club Life Membership. 

The pair were recognised at the Club’s AFLW Club Champion awards night at Sky City on Friday night.

Adelaide’s inaugural co-captains when the competition began in 2017, Randall and Phillips remain driving forces behind the growth of the women’s game and inspiring a generation of young girls to take up football.

In recent years, the Club has ensured its life membership criteria has evolved in line with the changing face of the women’s competition and both Randall and Phillips qualify as special nominations, with Board sign-off, given their outstanding service.

Randall was signed as a marquee player ahead of the inaugural AFLW season and made the move to Adelaide from Western Australia before the Crows had a coach or playing squad.

The 32-year-old is now a three-time Premiership player, five-time All Australian, a Club Champion, and has been judged the AFLW’s Most Courageous Player five times. 

She remains the League’s longest serving Captain at the one club and is a development coach with the Crows’ AFL team.

After eight seasons, Phillips announced her retirement at the end of the 2023 season.

She played 46 games and kicked 50 goals for Adelaide, before joining Port Adelaide in 2022 (Season Seven).

Phillips is the AFLW’s most decorated player, with three Premierships, three All Australian selections, two Club Champion awards and two AFLW best-and-fairests.

She is also a two-time Club leading goal kicker and was named best on ground in winning grand finals in 2017 and 2019.

Crows CEO Tim Silvers said Randall and Phillips’ pioneering contribution to the game was fitting of Life Membership.  

“It is a significant moment for anyone to receive Life Membership to a football club, let alone being the first from our AFLW program,” Silvers said.

“It is one of the highest honours you can receive and is reserved for those who have displayed exceptional commitment to the Club over an extended period, and that certainly applies to Chelsea and Erin.

“Their contributions not only to our Club but to the game have gone well beyond the fence, from their outstanding on-field performances and leadership, to the role they have played in inspiring the next generation of female footballers and in growing the game to what it has become today.”