TRIPLE premiership player Chelsea Randall has retired due to issues related to concussion.

Randall played 80 games for Adelaide and is a five-time All-Australian, but has called time on her career at the age of 35.

Addressing the media on Monday afternoon, Randall said a recent training incident brought the decision into sharp focus.

"A few weeks ago, I joined in a tackle drill at training and experienced some starry vision after a couple of minor bumps. Then shortly after that, I had another incident involving mild contact, and more starry vision," Randall said. 

"It was at that point that it became clear that my brain and body could no longer withstand minor bumps without experiencing issues related to concussion. After consultation with my club doctor, the AFL and specialists, they formed a recommendation for me to retire. 

"With the new evidence with my recent experiences at training and the expert recommendations, I have no choice but to make the safest choice for my health and my family. So it is with great sadness that I retire from football."

It's understood Randall has had regular check-up scans after repeated head knocks across her career – both in the AFLW and the then-WAWFL – and had positive results as recently as October last year.

She missed seven consecutive games last year with concussion, but returned to see out the season, her final match coming in Adelaide's semi-final loss to Melbourne.

"Out for a period of time last year, but I felt very confident last year, and always listened to the medical advice and was guided by them, and they supported that. At the time, last year, I was really ready and raring to go, playing those few games," Randall said.

"I was really excited to play footy this year. I was really excited because it was the first time ever in 10 years that I wasn't holding a second job or trying to finish a uni degree or trying to wear multiple hats, so I could just be a player and spend time with my teammates. 

"I wore a helmet (at training), was building some great confidence up and was feeling great, but unfortunately I couldn't ignore the evidence where my body and brain couldn't withstand some small bumps like that.

"In some way, it's a relief to walk away now and not put myself in any more danger."

West Australian Randall started her football journey as one of the very few girls playing junior footy with the boys in the early 2000s, and became a star with Swan Districts, captaining her state at the senior women's national carnivals that preceded the AFLW.

She featured in the first women's exhibition match between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs at the MCG in 2014, and was lured to Adelaide as a marquee player ahead of the first AFLW season in 2017.

Randall retires as one of the most decorated and respected players in the game, having co-captained Adelaide alongside Erin Phillips – and then in her own stead – from 2017-2023.

A true utility, she played across all three lines over her AFLW career, and her strong marking, competitive drive and ability to turn a game on a dime saw her recognised by her peers with a record six AFLPA most courageous awards.

Alongside Phillips, she was key in establishing Adelaide's remarkable culture and high-performance professionalism that saw the Crows set the pace in the early years of the league.

She won plaudits from the wider football world for her attitude and maturity when ruled out of the losing 2021 Grand Final due to concussion, but hit out at the AFL after she was placed in protocols by the league – rather than the club after passing a SCAT – ahead of the 2022 (season seven) semi-final.

Randall has also played a key role in promoting the women's game in South Australia off the field.

"I will miss the immense joy that playing gave me, I’ll miss competing at the highest level, I’ll miss sharing the game with my teammates and playing in front of our members and supporters," Randall said.

"I am incredibly grateful to the Adelaide football club, which has supported me both on and off the field over the past 10 seasons. 

"I am also so grateful to the AFLW competition as a whole; to have been part of its growth from the very beginning has been an honour and one of the great privileges of my life.”

As to what's next, Randall isn't sure, but she certainly won't be lost to the game.

"I'm feeling good now. It's more in tackle moments and whatnot that I'm experiencing some of those issues," she said.

"I'm probably still accepting it (retirement). It's going to be a difficult transition. For a lot of players who go through retirement, no doubt it's similar for them, that transition out of the game where you have so much structure and support around you – but I have incredible teammates and I'm well supported throughout this football club. 

"I love coaching, I've found a great joy in that, especially working in our men's program, they've taught me so much. I just love these boys, they're incredible people, so to have been part of that program for the last three years, I'm very grateful, and to learn from some of the incredible coaches we have across both programs is awesome. 

"I love working in the leadership space too, I love being able to watch people grow in that space. We'll wait and see. For now, I think it'll be a slow transition. I'll still be able to work on my pipes in the gym, and maybe help with some of the coaching stuff, or I might just take some little adventures with my boy (Tomi) here and there, but we'll work through that."