Chelsea Randall retires from AFLW for 'issues related to concussion'

Crows star Chelsea Randall retires from AFLW for 'issues related to concussion' Mon 29 Jun 2026 at 12:14pm Adelaide Crows star Chelsea Randall has announced her retirement from the AFLW, with the club citing concussion as a major factor in her decision. The three-time premiership player was an inaugural AFLW member and played 80 games for the Crows, including eight seasons as captain. In a statement, 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". "I am incredibly grateful to the Adelaide Football Club, which has supported me both on and off the field over the past 10 seasons," Randall said. "I am also so grateful to the AFLW competition as a whole; to have been part of its growth from the very beginning has been an honour and one of the great privileges of my life." 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 will miss the immense joy that playing gave me, I'll miss competing at the highest level, I'll miss sharing the game with my teammates and playing in front of our members and supporters," Randall said. It comes as the ABC's Four Corners program has reported dozens of Australian Rules players, including 19 professional and semi-professional footballers, have been diagnosed with the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Loading [Image text:] SHHERRN Works Austra