Chelsea Randall’s unpredictability makes her one of the AFLW’s most intriguing players
CHELSEA Randall has an unpredictability about her and that’s what makes the WA native turned Adelaide co-captain one of the most intriguing players in AFLW.
CHELSEA Randall has an unpredictability about her. You never quite know what she’s going to do.
And that’s what makes the West Australian turned Adelaide co-captain one of the most intriguing players in AFL Women’s.
“You know something’s going to happen, but what is it?” Adelaide coach Bec Goddard said of Randall.
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“Is it going to be an enormous mark? Is it going to be crashing a pack or is it going to be a tackle that you can look and think, ‘Oh I don’t know if that girl’s going to get up’?
“Those are the things about Chelsea, the way she plays, but then you also get her leadership qualities.”
Goddard recalls umpiring a then 17-year-old Randall in the youth girls nationals.
She recognised Randall’s ability immediately, but when she was tunnelled under the ball, snapping her ankle, she thought that talent had been lost to the sport.
“I watched her stretchered off and I thought to myself, we’ve just seen the future of women’s football ... snuffed out,” Goddard said.
But Randall wouldn’t let the break stop her.
“There’s highs and lows in a game of football, some of the challenges we face just make us better and direct us on where we want to be and where we do,” Randall, now 25, said.
“That gave me some strength to jump back up and go again.”
Randall could have stayed in Western Australia and been part of highly fancied Fremantle outfit. She chose the harder path and a move to the Crows.
“I believe Adelaide has so much to offer,” Randall said.
“Their female pathway is fast tracking in South Australia because of this AFL Women’s league.
“I was just excited for a new adventure, meet new people and hopefully have a positive impact in South Australia.”
Goddard laughs when asked Randall’s best position. She plumps for midfield-forward.
“We know we can play Chelsea anywhere,” Goddard said.
“It depends what stage of the game we’re in as to where we put her.”
Adelaide meets Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on Friday night, both teams impressive in Round 1 wins.
The Bulldogs thrashed the highly-fancied Fremantle, who were too good for the Crows in a practice match.
In that game, there was no Erin Phillips, the basketball star who booted three goals in an ultra-impressive AFLW debut last Saturday.
Nine Crows players are based in Darwin, meaning two training groups separated by 2600km. Goddard said she would not use the situation as an excuse.
“They’re committed to making it work, when they are together, the level of intensity is unbelievable,” she said.
“I don’t think other clubs can mimic that.”
Originally published as Chelsea Randall’s unpredictability makes her one of the AFLW’s most intriguing players
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