Adelaide star Chelsea Randall reveals the moment she realised the major impact of AFLW
ADELAIDE’s Chelsea Randall reveals the moment she realised both young boys and girls finally have the same opportunity. Re-live Chelsea’s live blog
THE noise from the 7000-strong crowd at EJ Whitten Oval last Friday night was unreal.
But there was an area squealing a bit louder than most and as I looked around the fence a young boy and girl both in Crows guernseys jumped the fence.
GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY TO RE-LIVE CHELSEA’S LIVE BLOG
The boy asked for my autograph and said he wanted to play for the Adelaide Crows one day. I looked over to the girl and she yelled: “I’m going to play for the Crows too!”
It was this point that it truly hit me — both of these children will have that opportunity.
Thanks to the AFLW this young girl won’t have to play a different sport to be a professional sportswoman.
What is also important in my view, is the young boy also grows up knowing females and males can both play footy and that was the moment for me, the new competition found its true place.
The league is true a trailblazer in both equality and technology — setting the scene for generations of girls and boys to come.
Each week the league raises many interesting questions and discussion points around skills, ability, the attraction and now the little monitors taped to our ears — even my managers’ daughter asked him if I had a hearing aid.
For all of those asking, these devices were part of a Monash University research project into concussion in female contact sport.
As has been widely reported, the AFL and AFLPA along with the clubs are investing heavily into research in this area.
We need to make it as safe as possible for those playing the game, but the reality is very little data exists in the realms of women’s footy — so we are very keen to help compile the data required.
While the research is one thing, the discussion is far wider ranging. One of the most talked about positives of the league from those watching is regarding its competitiveness and the attack on the ball, the tackling and “heat” of the contest.
At the Crows, we pride ourselves on being uncomfortable to play against and in that regard, as hard as we can be at the contest.
But of course, there are also the critics of the league about headhigh tackles and bumps — seems you can never please everyone.
The league has many players who are not from football backgrounds and I’m proud to say our club is working really hard to educate and train us in correct technique, both in protecting ourselves, but also in tackling.
This is to ensure all players understand the head is sacrosanct and that we are ensuring player welfare remains an absolute priority.
However it’s a contact sport and just as accidents happen in netball, women’s basketball and soccer, so will it happen for us.
We also are extremely lucky to have top grade medical professionals that monitor our every move — we have far more support from medical staff now than we ever have been. I look forward to seeing the research progress.
The education of players, coaches and all of those in the game will follow in due course — but one thing that won’t change is our desire to win, our competitiveness and our absolute joy to be living our dream.
Originally published as Adelaide star Chelsea Randall reveals the moment she realised the major impact of AFLW
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