Adelaide Crows Star Chelsea Randall Retires Due to Concussion Effects

Adelaide Crows star Chelsea Randall says the ongoing effects of multiple concussions left with her "no choice" but to retire from the game, for the sake of her health and her family.

The three-time premiership player was an inaugural AFLW participant and played 80 games for the Crows, whom she captained for eight seasons, but missed the 2021 grand final because of concussion.

In a statement announcing Randall's retirement, the club said the 35-year-old's decision had been prompted by "issues related to concussion", and came after "regular consultation with the club doctor, independent specialists and the AFL".

At a media conference, Randall elaborated on her decision, and at times became emotional as she reflected on the prospect of having to give up the game she loved.

She said the final straw had been the experience of starry vision following a recent training drill.

"A few weeks ago I joined in a tackle drill at training and experienced some starry vision after a couple of minor bumps, and then shortly after that I had another incident involving mild contact and more starry vision," she said.

"It was at that point that it became clear that my brain and body could no longer withstand minor bumps without experiencing issues related to concussion.

"After consultation with my club doctor, the AFL and specialists, they formed a recommendation for me to retire.

"I have no choice but to make the safest decision for my health and for my family, so it is with great sadness that I retire from football."

Among Randall's on-field accomplishments are five-time All-Australian selection, including as captain in 2018 — the same season that she was named Crows club champion.

"I'm incredibly grateful to the Adelaide footy club for supporting me on and off the field for the past 10 seasons," she said.

"The club has helped shape me into the person I am today, and when I first came to the club it felt almost unbelievable that there would be an AFLW competition. To play for the Crows was an opportunity I still pinch myself about.

"I'm sad that my playing career has finished, but I've got some exciting adventures with my little boy to look forward to, and I only have one brain, so yeah, it's time I just put the playing to rest."

Randall's retirement comes as the ABC's Four Corners program has reported that dozens of Australian Rules players, including 19 professional and semi-professional footballers, have been diagnosed with the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Randall missed out on the 2021 grand final after colliding heavily with Melbourne's Eliza McNamara during the preliminary final — an incident that put concussion in women's sport under the spotlight.

She suffered other concussions earlier in the same season, as well as in 2025, and she also received a serious head knock during a game in 2018.

After praising the club and her teammates, Randall thanked her family for their "constant love and support", and received a round of applause at the end of her statement.

"All I ever wanted was to make you guys proud and leave the club and the competition in a better place," she said.

Crows executive general manager AFLW Bree Brock described Randall as a "leader and champion of the game" whose career had served as a testament to "courage, resilience and elite ability".

"Chelsea has consistently set the standard through her actions," Brock said.

"When Chelsea arrived at the Crows ahead of the inaugural AFLW season in 2017, there were 2,741 women and girls registered to play football in South Australia.

"Today, that number has surged to 11,822 and Chelsea's trailblazing role in growing the game across our state, as well as her lasting influence, should never be underestimated."

Crows chief executive Tim Silvers said Randall had "been a trailblazer" for the club.

"Chelsea coming in as our marquee player … as a co-captain from the start, set the tone, set the culture and set us on this great journey. Three premierships in a decade," he said.

"It's not just what she's done for the Crows, it's what she's done for the competition, and we're immensely proud of what she's achieved on the field but off the field as well.

"She'd be hard pressed not to get a statue in her honour."

'Not goodbye for ever'

Asked about the AFL concussion class action, Randall said she was not really aware of it, but added "there are dangers in all contact sports around the world, and it's just constantly listening to your medical team."

At a reflective media conference, Randall looked back on her time in the game, singling out the 2019 premiership in front of 53,000 at Adelaide Oval, as well as her on-field collaboration with fellow champion Erin Phillips, who co-captained the Crows alongside her from 2017 to 2020.

Randall traced her passion for the game back to her time as an 11-year-old, lining up for Safety Bay Stingers in Western Australia.

"I still remember the head coach of the under-11 team coming over at my brother's half-time game and he said, 'Jeez, you can kick it. Do you want to fill in for the boys' team tomorrow?'" she said.

"I managed to convince mum, and the next day I pulled up my socks and tucked the guernsey in.

"I got laughed at; they saw the beautiful ponytail and they started laughing and thought it was quite funny that a girl was about to take the field, so I think I had to have a lot of courage.

"I had this inner desire for everyone in football to feel included."

She said she took satisfaction in playing a part in the achievement of that goal.

"I'm so proud of seeing how far we've come as a society in accepting women playing on the big stage … [and] I'm proud that my son gets to grow up watching some incredible male role models as well as some incredible female role models on TV. He doesn't know any different," she said.

"I just love footy. I love everything about it.

"And so it's not goodbye for ever to footy because I know I'll still be involved in some way or another. I'll either be up on the hill enjoying a beer, and actually being able to support from afar, or I'll be hands on, and I don't know what that might look like just yet."