Rhiannon Metcalfe

Metcalfe started playing Australian rules football in 2015, picking up the game in an annual women's football camp held by the Australian Defence Force (ADF). She made the final team and was voted as Best First Year Player. She then represented the ADF against Victoria, helping the ADF win in Melbourne on Anzac Day. At the end of the season she joined Western Wolves in the Sydney Women's AFL. In the Navy, she was selected in the leadership group and also voted the most valuable player. At the start of 2016, due to relocating, Metcalfe joined Gungahlin in AFL Canberra Women's. She also represented Canberra against Sydney and was selected as best on ground.{{cite web|url=https://news.navy.gov.au/en/Oct2016/Sport/3285/AFL-achievements-recognised-in-draft-selection.htm|title=AFL achievements recognised in draft selection|first=Ben|last=Robinson|publisher=Royal Australian Navy|date=18 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/289047/rhiannon-s-ruckwork-shipshape|title=Rhiannon's ruckwork shipshape|first=Matilda|last=Conlon|publisher=Telstra Media|work=Adelaide|date=16 February 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/114644/aflw-metcalfes-onboard-role|title=AFLW: Metcalfe's on-board role|first=Kirralee|last=Thomas|publisher=Telstra Media|work=Adelaide|date=7 February 2018}}

Metcalfe was drafted by Adelaide with their tenth selection and seventy-fourth overall in the 2016 AFL Women's draft,{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/collingwood/collingwood-recruit-nicole-stevens-says-womens-game-will-get-bigger-and-bigger/news-story/79c9158dc5121ced6f09a91bddb9bf79|title=Collingwood recruit Nicole Stevens says women's game will get bigger and bigger|last=Williams|first=Rebecca|date=12 October 2016|newspaper=Herald Sun|access-date=24 May 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://mygungahlin.com.au/sports/gungahlin-jets-players-drafted|title=Gungahlin Jets Players Drafted|newspaper=My Gungahlin|date=12 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://news.defence.gov.au/media/media-releases/adf-women-selected-afl-national-competition|title=ADF women selected for AFL national competition|publisher=Australian Defence Force|date=13 October 2016}} after requesting from the Royal Australian Navy a posting in Adelaide and selecting South Australia as her preferred destination. She made her debut in the thirty-six point win against Greater Western Sydney at Thebarton Oval in the opening round of the 2017 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/aflw-teams-round-1-full-sides-named-for-inaugural-round-of-afl-womens-competition/news-story/2074512b6a2a374781cb5f3a23447d70|title=AFLW Teams Round 1: Full sides named for inaugural round of AFL Women's competition|date=3 February 2017|work=Fox Sports|access-date=24 May 2017}} She was a part of Adelaide's premiership side after the club defeated Brisbane by six points at Metricon Stadium in the AFL Women's Grand Final.{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-03-23/aflw-grand-final-teams-revealed|title=AFLW: Grand Final teams revealed|date=23 March 2017|work=Australian Football League|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=24 May 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/adelaide-crows-defeat-brisbane-lions-by-six-points-in-aflw-grand-final/news-story/ae171dd26875b828bc74ac7cc5728238|title=Adelaide Crows defeat Brisbane Lions by six points in AFLW grand final|last=David|first=Greg|date=25 March 2017|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|access-date=24 May 2017}} She played every match in her debut season to finish with eight matches.{{cite web|url=http://australianfootball.com/players/player/Rhiannon%2BMetcalfe/19874|title=Rhiannon Metcalfe|work=Australian Football|access-date=24 May 2017}} Adelaide signed Metcalfe for the 2018 season during the trade period in May 2017,{{cite web|title=AFLW: All the clubs' full lists after trade period - AFL.com.au|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-26/aflw-all-the-clubs-full-lists-after-trade-period|work=Australian Football League|publisher=Telstra Media|access-date=26 May 2017|date=26 May 2017}} and was the starting ruck in the 2018 season too.{{cite web|url=https://womens.afl/news/42102/remember-me-10-players-on-the-comeback-trail-in-2020|title=Remember me? 10 players on the comeback trail in 2020|first=Sarah|last=Black|publisher=Telstra Media|work=AFL Women's|date=2 February 2020|quote=Rhiannon Metcalfe [...] Adelaide's starting ruck for the first two seasons...}} In a trial match against Fremantle, ahead of the 2019 season, Metcalfe tore her left anterior cruciate ligament,{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/235962/aflw-rhi-ruled-out|title=AFLW: Rhi ruled out for 2019 season|publisher=Telstra Media|work=Adelaide|date=21 January 2019}} resulting in her missing the season and Jess Foley filling her spot in the ruck.{{cite web|url=https://womens.afl/news/40473/crows-keeping-options-open-with-versatile-tall|title=Crows keeping options open with versatile tall|first=Lee|last=Gaskin|publisher=Telstra Media|work=AFL Women's|date=24 January 2020}} Despite her injury, she re-signed with the club for the 2020 season,{{cite news|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6089659/metcalfe-re-signs-with-adelaide-crows-for-2020-aflw-season/|title= Metcalfe re-signs with Adelaide Crows for 2020 AFLW season|first=Jasper|last=Lindell|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=25 April 2019}} kicking a goal in her return against Carlton in round 4 of the season.{{cite news|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/blues-down-crows-spoil-stars-aflw-return-ng-s-1998017|title=Blues down Crows, spoil star's AFLW return|first=Jason|last=Phelan|newspaper=The West Australian|date=1 March 2020}}

She spent 2022 season 6 on the inactive list due to work commitments,{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/959753/aflw-25-crows-secured-for-2022|title=AFLW: 25 Crows secured for 2022|publisher=Telstra|work=Adelaide|date=17 June 2021}} following which she announced her retirement from the AFLW.{{Cite news|title=Who's hanging up the boots? Your club's retiring players|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1000408/whos-hanging-up-the-boots-your-clubs-retiring-players|website=AFL Women's|last1=Black|first1=Sarah|last2=Bastiani|first2=Gemma|date=17 June 2022|access-date=19 July 2024}}

Metcalfe was born in Nelson Bay and was later relocated to Canberra.{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/canberra-connection-pushes-adelaide-crows-to-maiden-afl-womens-premiership-win-20170325-gv6g4c.html|title=Canberra connection pushes Adelaide Crows to maiden AFL Women's premiership win|first=Caden|last=Helmers|newspaper=The Age|date=25 March 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/belconnen-magpies-star-jodie-hicks-scooped-up-by-gws-giants-in-afl-womens-draft-20171018-gz30fc.html|title=Belconnen Magpies star Jodie Hicks scooped up by GWS Giants in AFL Women's draft|first=Caden|last=Helmers|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 October 2017|quote=Radan and Metcalfe are the only Canberrans...}} Metcalfe is in the Royal Australian Navy, working in the field of electronic warfare, responsible for using sensitive electronic receivers that deal with emissions in the ship's vicinity. She was an able seaman when she was drafted, but has risen in the ranks to be a leading seaman.

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{{2017 Adelaide premiership players (AFLW)}}

{{Inaugural Adelaide AFL Women's team}}

{{2016 AFL Women's draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Metcalfe, Rhiannon}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Adelaide Football Club (AFLW) players

Category:Australian rules footballers from the Australian Capital Territory

Category:Royal Australian Navy sailors

Category:Australian people of English descent