The Adelaide Football Club in conjunction with AFLNT is thrilled to welcome Kellie Gibson and Chelsea Randall as the first two marquee players for the Crows team in the AFL’s National Women’s League.
In an historic moment for the sport, the AFL today announced 16 marquee players – two for each of the eight teams participating in the inaugural season of the competition – at an event at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium.
Both hailing from the Swan Districts in Western Australia, 20-year-old Gibson and 25-year-old Randall were at Adelaide Oval for the announcement.
Never one to shy away from the contest, Randall is known for her hard hitting and high marking versatility. She is an athletic player with exceptional skills and has the assets to blow any game apart.
Gibson is an experienced head at a young age. She is a quick outside runner who is tough, physical and can read the play well, often turning her opponent inside out.
Crows Head of Football David Noble said the Club was delighted to have Gibson and Randall as the first players in the Crows’ inaugural women’s squad.
“Both Kellie and Chelsea rate among the most admired female footballers in Australia and we’re thrilled to have them at the Crows,” Noble said.
“Chelsea is a hard hitting, athletic and versatile player who can take a high mark and has exceptional skills.
“While Kellie is a quick outside runner who is tough, physical and can read the play well.
“Importantly, both have great leadership qualities on and off the field.
“Our goal is to make the Crows the club of choice for women and girls, whether as participants, administrators or fans, and we are rapt to have Kellie and Chelsea as part of our inaugural women’s squad.”
The Crows team is in partnership with AFLNT, with a focus on combining talent and resources to ensure competitiveness on-field and drive growth and engagement across the central corridor.
An experienced panel, including Noble and high performance expert Jane Woodlands-Thompson along with AFLNT High Performance Manager Wally Gallio, is currently conducting a search for a Senior Coach and a detailed analysis of talent is also well underway.
The competition will run across February and March 2017.
Chelsea Randall
Age: 25
Forward
Plays with Swan Districts in WAWFL
3 x All-Australian
2 x WAWFL Best and Fairest
Selection #3 in 2013 Draft
Played with Melbourne 2013, 2014 & 2015
Represented Western Australia 2015 & 2016
Day job: Swans Districts Regional Manager - East Pilbara
Kellie Gibson
Age: 20
Forward
In 2016 made the move to SA club Morphettville Park
Originally from Swan Districts WA
5 x WA youth girls representative
2 x WAWFL premiership player
Played Rugby 7s and went to the Youth Olympics in 2014 and won a gold medal
Selection #48 in 2013 Draft
Played with Western Bulldogs 2013, 2015
Played with Melbourne 2014
Day job: SANFL Community Programs Coordinator