Erin Phillips, Chelsea Randall back to co-captain Adelaide Crows in AFLW premiership campaign

As the Crows AFLW pre-season camp in the Top End comes to an end, the players have voted for their leadership team, ahead of an assault on regaining the AFLW premiership trophy.

Reigning Crows AFLW club champion Chelsea Randall has been reappointed co-captain of the side alongside Erin Phillips.

The 2019 AFLW season — which kicks off on February 2 — will be the third year that the two are in the top leadership role.

The Crows side voted for their captains during the team’s pre-season camp in Darwin.

Courtney Cramey and Angela Foley have been appointed co-vice-captains.

Randall said she was honoured to be taking on the leadership role again.

“I’m humbled to have been chosen by the peer vote and to be re-elected alongside Erin,” Randall said.

Erin Phillips, and Chelsea Randall have been announced as the Adelaide Crows AFLW team captains along with Ang Foley (left), and Courtney Cramey (right) in the leadership group.

“She’s an amazing leader and we are really fortunate to have such a strong leadership group but also we are seeing a lot of young players showing excellent leadership qualities.

“Now that we’ve had an opportunity to play in the trial together, I am really looking forward to starting the AFLW season proper alongside my teammates.”

The team returns from their Darwin pre-season camp on Monday on a high after beating a flat-footed Fremantle side by 20 points in their trial game at TIO Stadium.

The playing group was told of the reappointment of the captains during an afternoon at Litchfield National Park, where the team recovered — and cooled off from the humid and hot conditions — in freshwater springs.

They have also spent the weekend getting up close and personal with crocodiles and snakes and holding team meetings as they prepare for their first game.

Phillips said she was looking forward to season three working alongside Randall, because of their great on-field and off-field chemistry.

“It’s special being in year number three and hopefully with Chels and the girls we can lead this team to a successful season,” Phillips said.

“Chelsea and I are different but our core beliefs, care factor for the team and goals are the same, so we balance each other out really well.”

Head coach Matthew Clarke said it was great recognition for the four senior players.

“Those four have clearly been great leaders of our Club over the last two years, there’s no doubt that the four leaders they have selected are natural leaders of this group,” Clarke said.

“Pleasingly, our leadership will extend beyond those four this season because a number of players have stepped up in the pre-season period.

“While those four will carry the titles, we look forward to the next wave of leaders developing.”