GWS Giants select 36-year-old Adelaide University and South Adelaide midfielder Courtney Gum in AFLW draft

A SANFL footballer has landed on an AFLW list – at the age of 36 – to prove her doubters wrong.

Courtney Gum, pictured with her son Buz, 2, after winning the SANFLW best and fairest while lining up with Glenelg. Gum, now with South Adelaide, was selected by GWS at last week’s AFLW draft.

COURTNEY Gum has had plenty of doubters throughout her eight-year football career.

Some believed the on-baller, who started playing at 29, was too old and slow to make the elite level.

The detractors looked like being right when clubs overlooked Gum ahead of this year’s first AFLW season.

But she bounced back to claim the SANFL women’s competition’s inaugural best and fairest while playing for Glenelg in March.

Last week Greater Western Sydney selected Gum, now 36, with pick 25 in the AFLW draft.

“I really thought my opportunity at AFLW had gone past me,” Gum, of Port Willunga, says.

“A lot of people that have said I am too slow and too old.

“It’s been a really interesting experience really having to push those opinions aside and give it a crack.

“I did go into the SANFLW season thinking ‘how am I going to go?’

“But I came out of it thinking maybe I am not that old and I had the confidence to look toward the AFLW.”

Gum, the partner of new South Adelaide women’s coach Krissie Steen, was set to play for the Panthers next season before being recruited by GWS.

The Giants invited Gum to train with them about six weeks ago after being impressed by her highlights reel.

She says being drafted is a “dream come true”.

“The talent is looking really good there and the coach, Alan McConnell, has a lot of experience.

“Their list this year was really young, so I can add that experience and I can play as an inside mid, which is what they were looking for.”

Moving to NSW will be a homecoming of sorts for Gum, the sister of former North Adelaide and Sturt midfielder Tristan Gum.

She lived there for five years and played for University of New South Wales/Eastern Suburbs before returning to Adelaide in 2014.

Gum and Steen, who have a two-year-old son, Buz, will maintain a long-distance relationship.