Adelaide triple premiership great Chelsea Randall has emerged as a serious contender to lead Tasmania’s AFLW side.
The Devils are closing in on appointing a women’s senior coach ahead of their expected entry into the competition in 2028.
Randall, a five-time All-Australian player who retired in June due to concussion-related issues, has been approached by the Devils about the inaugural position and is understood to be weighing her interest.
It comes after Tasmania mounted an aggressive pursuit of Brisbane’s Craig Starcevich for the role, with the dual premiership coach knocking back an offer as he works towards extending his tenure at the Lions.
Randall, who was an inaugural Adelaide AFLW captain alongside Erin Phillips, was the first woman to join the Crows’ AFL coaching staff.
She won a scholarship in the AFL’s women’s coaching acceleration program before working as a development coach at West Lakes from late 2022 to the end of the 2025 season.
Originally from Western Australia, Randall worked as an administrator for the Swans Districts WAFL side and as an AFL development officer in the Pilbara region before she was signed as an inaugural marquee player by the Crows.
The 35-year-old also completed a teaching degree during her 80-game playing career.
Randall said she was left with “no choice” but to retire after experiencing blurred vision during pre-season tackling drills earlier this year.
“I have been enjoying some time with my little boy (Tomi) and I’ve just been taking some time for myself in all honesty and trying to not work out what is next, but just sitting in it,” she told CODE Sports in August.
“It was a shock retirement and my mindset was preparing for another season of AFLW but that was not meant to be.
“So I am just using the remainder of this year to dabble in a couple of things, whether that is leadership speaking, or being a part of the Fox Footy team, which I am really excited about or helping out the next generation with some coaching stuff as well.”
Like Devils’ AFL coach Ken Hinkley, Randall would be able to split her time next year between Adelaide and Hobart if she was appointed to coach the AFLW side.
Tasmania is expected to enter the AFLW in 2028, after an initial push for the Devils to join the competition in 2027 ahead of the men’s side.
Former Collingwood player and GWS assistant Georgia Walker has had her contract renewed to coach the Devils’ VFLW side in 2027.
As well as Starcevich, the Devils also chased West Coast coach Daisy Pearce and former North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney about their interest in the inaugural role.
Pearce last week signed a two-year contract extension to remain at the Eagles, while Kearney is yet to rule out playing on next season as she pushes to recover from a hamstring injury in time for the Roos’ finals campaign.
Originally published as Chelsea Randall emerges as contender to coach Tasmania Devils AFLW team