Marijana Rajcic

Marijana Rajčić
Rajčić playing for Adelaide in 2018
Born (1989-03-15) 15 March 1989 (age 35)
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)

Australian rules football career
Personal information
Original team(s) Norwood Football Club (SANWFL)
Draft No. 32, 2017 AFL Women's draft
Debut Round 3, 2018, Adelaide vs. Western Bulldogs, at Norwood Oval
Position(s) Utility
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018–2022 (S7) Adelaide 50 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2022 season 7.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com
Association football career
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Fulham United
2009–2012 Adelaide United 15 (3)
2012 Gustafs GoIF 19 (6)
2012–2013 Adelaide United 10 (0)
2013–2015 Box Hill United
2015–2016 Adelaide United 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 January 2018

Marijana Rajčić (born 15 March 1989[1]) is a retired soccer and Australian rules football player. She played soccer professionally for Adelaide United in the W-League and Australian rules football for Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW).

Soccer career

Prior to taking up Australian rules football, Rajcic had previously played soccer with Adelaide United in the Australian W-League.[2] Prior to that she had played fully professionally for Gustafs GoIF in the Elitettan for the 2012 season,[3][4] and played for Box Hill United in the Victorian Women's Premier League when she returned to soccer after knee surgery.[5][6] She considers captaining Adelaide United in 2015 the best achievement in her soccer career.[7]

AFL Women's

Rajčić was drafted by Adelaide Football Club with their fourth selection and 32nd overall in the 2017 AFL Women's draft after just one season with Norwood Football Club in the South Australian National Football League's Statewide Super Women's League.[2][8] She previously took up the sport on the advice of a friend and in doing so followed the example of fellow dual-code players Brianna Davey, Ellie Brush and Jenna McCormick.[9] Rajcic made her league debut in round 3 of the 2018 season in a seven-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval.[10] In January 2023, Rajcic announced her retirement.[11]

Personal life

In 2020, Rajčić competed on The Amazing Race Australia 5 with Chelsea Randall as a "stowaway team".[12] In post-show interviews, the two revealed that they had started dating before filming began.[13] The pair announced their engagement on 5 March 2023 and the birth of their son on 29 October 2023.[14][15] Rajčić is of Croatian descendant.

References

  1. ^ "Player profile - Marijana Rajcic". Adelaide United FC. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  2. ^ a b Jesper, Fjeldstad (18 October 2017). "Former Adelaide United captain Marijana Rajcic reveals shock of those around her when swapping codes to AFL and joining Crows". The Advertiser. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Gustafs strengthens with offensive forces". Laget.se (in Swedish). 24 April 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  4. ^ Migliaccio, Val (19 October 2012). "Adelaide's Lady Reds ready to dump bunnies tag". The Advertiser. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Rajcic: "I was happy to just be involved with the team again"". The Women's Game. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  6. ^ "United stuns Box Hill". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Heidelberg Leader. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  7. ^ Thomas, Kirralee (10 January 2018). "AFLW: Resilient Rajcic". AFC.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Marijana Rajcic". Norwood Football Club. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  9. ^ Gunawardana, Tash (13 January 2018). "Former Adelaide United Captain Rajcic is now a Crow". World Footy News. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  10. ^ Gaskin, Lee (17 February 2018). "Match report: Phillips keeps Crows' season alive". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  11. ^ "AFLW: Marijana Rajcic announces retirement". Adelaide. Telstra. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  12. ^ Knox, David (15 February 2021). ""The Amazing Farce": fans not happy with twist". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Chelsea and MJ May Not Have Won The Amazing Race But They Did Win Each Other's Hearts". Mix 102.3. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  14. ^ Saeed, Daanyal (7 March 2023). "Crows pair Marijana Rajcic and Chelsea Randall announce engagement". news.com.au. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  15. ^ Noakes, Cameron (29 October 2023). "AFLW power couple Chelsea Randall and Marijana Rajcic share amazing baby news: 'We are so in love'". Seven News. Retrieved 30 October 2023.