Chelsea Randall joins Glenunga Football Club to lead and mentor junior girls

A former Crows premiership captain and All-Australian has joined a local SA footy club to lead and mentor its junior girls in season 2024.

A former Crows AFLW premiership captain and multi-award winner has joined a local SA footy club to mentor its junior girls in season 2024.

Triple AFLW premiership player Chelsea Randall will work with the Glenunga Football Club throughout the season to spearhead its inaugural junior girls leadership and mentor program.

The four-time AFLW All-Australian, triple AFLW premiership captain and five-time AFLW Most Courageous Player will run a number of leadership and mentoring sessions as well as skill development clinics for the club’s female players with the aim of equipping them with the skills to be the best players and people they can be.

Randall, who now holds a role with the coaching staff on the Crows men’s team, said she wanted to return to the grassroots game.

Crows AFLW star Chelsea Randall with (left to right) Aayla Walker, 12, Abbey Bates, 11, and Violet Tulloch, 11, of the Glenunga Football Club, where Chelsea has joined as a junior girls football leader and mentor for 2024. Picture: Matt Loxton

“I think just in general my background has been in community programs with the Crows or the WA Footy Commission – I just love working with the community and want to give back to grassroots footy,” Randall said.

“I want to show these girls the possibilities in women’s footy now and where you can go with it.

“It’s such a great way to connect with new friends and such a great platform to propel you forward as a player and person.”

Glenunga was one of the first clubs to introduce a girls and women’s program when the AFLW was founded in 2017 and has gone from starting with 80 players to providing an opportunity for over 250 girls to play football.

Randall was looking forward to being part of the Rams.

“Glenunga has been an exceptional female footy club through a number of years now and it’s going to be a brilliant club to be involved in,” she said.

Crows star Chelsea Randall with Aayla Walker, 12, Abbey Bates, 11, and Violet Tulloch, 11 at the Glenunga Football Club. Picture: Matt Loxton

“So far we’ve planned to have six-odd sessions with the girls during the season to really promote how to be a leader and figure and get the most out of your time at the club.

“Footy clubs are a great way for girls to connect and have a place they feel they belong. I first joined a boys footy team when I was 11 and I loved the game but I never really had a sense I belonged so we want to promote that because it’s so important to help them grow.”

Randall said she hoped other AFLW players would get involved at the community level in the coming years as the women’s game goes from strength to strength.

“I think it’s important AFLW players get back to grassroots footy and impart their knowledge and experiences for the next generation of players while being open and vulnerable about the fact making it to the top level is not easy but that there are other doors you can open.

“You want them to have fun and enjoy it and use it as a chance to make new friends and celebrate the things they’re good at.

“Sometimes we forget to celebrate how far we’ve come. It takes courage to get involved and we want to make sure they’re enjoying it and have an opportunity.”