Adelaide Crows AFLW co-captain Chelsea Randall says the dreams of a flag can now come true

THE countdown is on, we are only days away from the inaugural AFL Women’s grand final and Crows co-captain Chelsea Randall has chatted with us about the team’s preparation in the lead up to the big game. Replay our live blog

THE countdown is on, we are only days away from the inaugural AFL Women’s grand final.

Early predictions from the public would never have picked us to be playing the Brisbane Lions in the decider.

In all honesty, before the season had even started both teams were considered contenders for the wooden spoon.

REPLAY OUR LIVE BLOG WITH CHELSEA RANDALL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STORY.

It just shows us how exciting this AFLW competition has been, anything is possible.

We saw some incredible teams shine, some outstanding athletes, who have become household names, role models for many young girls and boys across Australia.

Players, coaches, support staff, clubs and fans who have been a part of inaugural AFLW season should be incredibly proud of their teams and the efforts they have gone to in representing the game with such pride and passion.

They made history in Australia and helped change Australian Rules forever.

This dream of mine and of so many other players has come true and now is a routine of life. Travel days, training days, gym days, recovery days and before we knew it the next round was upon us and we would do it all again.

We sure have been through some highs and lows as a team through our first year, winning five games and losing two.

The journey has been everything I could have dreamt about and so much more.

Seven weeks ago when this competition started, it was about creating history by playing in Round 1, the first ever AFL Women’s football game.

A historic day for everyone who was a part of it and something we will treasure for ever.

Now here we are at the end of the line for the 2017 AFLW season.

A Grand Final, wow, it still feels a bit surreal.

I’m struggling for words to describe the feeling. Excited, honoured and proud are definitely some of them.

The game against Collingwood was now or never, we only had one chance. If we had lost that game, or only won by a small amount of points it was all over, Melbourne would be through to the Grand Final and all our hard work this season would have been a missed opportunity.

People spend many years playing sport and never get an opportunity to play in a grand final, the pinnacle of what each team strives for each and every season.

We may not ever have this chance for many years to come, and we will never have this chance again with the exact same playing group.

And who would have thought an AFLW Grand Final to be played on the Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium? It’s caused some ripe discussion among everyone.

From the start the AFL had announced the team to finish on top of the ladder would host the AFLW Grand Final.

Crows players celebrate as the final siren sounds against Collingwood.

The Brisbane Lions’ home stadium is the GABBA, and due to the poor condition of the surface the oval was deemed unacceptable to play on.

It was confirmed on Monday the AFLW Grand Final to go ahead at Metricon Oval in the Gold Coast this Saturday.

For us, we are just excited to be playing in a grand final wherever the venue may be.

We can only control what we can control, and what we can control is us — our attitudes, our body language and how we play.

Our preparation will be no different from previous games.

Wednesday night is an open training session for the public to come down to AAMI Stadium, West Lakes at 5-6.30pm.

Come and meet the players get some autographs and cheer us on before we fly out on Thursday morning.

Our 68,000 members and 500,000 Adelaide Crows fans have been behind us the whole season and we can’t thank you enough for believing in us and getting right behind us.

Jessica Sedunary of the Crows is tackled by Stacey Livingstone of the Magpies.

To those supporters who are travelling across to the Gold Coast to watch it live, travel safe and we can’t wait to see you in your colours screaming for us loud and proud.

Those who are watching on television, I’m sure we will still hear you screaming from wherever you may be.

The club has organised a function at the Alma Tavern for anyone that wants to get down and watch it with some fellow tricoloured mates.

In the last contest against Brisbane Lions we lost by three points — half a kick in it.

We expect a hard contest once again for the big dance. The game will be shown live on Channel 7 and Fox Footy.

The winners will receive the Premiership Cup that was unveiled at the Captains launch and each premiership player and head coach will receive an inaugural premiership AFLW ring.

Win or lose, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this journey and the opportunity to write each week for The Advertiser and let people in on a few personal stories.

Thanks once again for your continued support. Bring it on.

Originally published as Adelaide Crows AFLW co-captain Chelsea Randall says the dreams of a flag can now come true