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AFLW Leaders Announced
For the fourth consecutive year Adelaide’s AFLW team will have co-captains, with Chelsea Randall and Erin Phillips once again appointed to lead the side in 2020.
The decision was made by AFLW Senior Coach Matthew Clarke in consultation with the coaching group and team leaders and was ratified by the Adelaide Football Club Board. It will be a different style of leadership for the pair in 2020, with Randall missing the season after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the side’s first pre-season training.
The timing of Phillips’ return to the field is yet to be confirmed while she continues her rehabilitation from the ACL injury she sustained in the 2019 AFLW Grand Final. Randall and Phillips will be supported by a five-person leadership group. Last year’s joint vice-captains Courtney Cramey and Angela Foley have been retained in the group, while three new faces joined the ranks.
Ruck Jessica Foley and defenders Marijana Rajcic and Sarah Allan were also selected via a player voted process.
Clarke said while the co-captains would provide terrific support off the field, their absence out on the ground created an opportunity for others to step up. “The decision that the group would be best served by retaining the cocaptains was made on exposed form, three years of outstanding leadership and the fact that Chelsea and Erin are the natural leaders of this group,” Clarke said. “It’s also a real positive that we have five players all nominated closely within a couple of votes of each other for the expanded leadership group.
“Four of them are quite experienced and that maturity has been recognised by their peers and will hold them in good stead.
“It’s great to see Sarah also be recognised for her quiet, controlled and calming influence on the group, which we see on game day down back.
“We have a good mix of experience, calm and energy in the five and they will all help support Erin and Chelsea.”
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