A call from Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke was enough to lure former Giant Courtney Gum out of AFLW retirement
Midfielder Courtney Gum played two seasons with GWS before hanging up the boots. But now she’s joined Adelaide - the reigning premiers - after being sounded out by coach Matthew Clarke.
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Courtney Gum is the sort of footballer who loves a good pre-season - all the sweat and the grind, and then all the improvement that comes from that.
Gum retired from women’s football following two seasons with GWS in March this year, but has made a remarkable comeback after an unexpected phone call from Crows coach Matthew Clarke convinced her to return to top-level footy and join the AFLW premiers.
Gum joined her new teammates for day one of pre-season training at West Lakes on Monday evening, where the players were put through their first paces ahead of launching their premiership defence in 2020.
“I had retired mentally as well as physically (from football), so the off-season has been a bit of a process of getting back to condition,” she said.
“I love sport and I love competing, and the lure of that is really exciting.”
The South Australian former Giants key midfielder said looking at the Crows from the outside in, the team looked to be a solid unit - and she was now seeing that first-hand.
“They’ve been really welcoming,” she said.
“The Crows are a really cohesive team and having played against them you could see that, and now to be part of it, it’s really noticeable.”
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Gum said her role in 2020 would likely take her out of the midfield and into the forward line, where she would bring experience and a tough body, working alongside the likes of youngsters Eloise Jones and Danielle Ponter.
“I just want to play really well for the team and at an individual level as well, and see out my career on a high,” she said.
Gum will be back playing alongside her former GWS teammate Renee Forth who joined the Crows last season.
“She’s an amazing team player and really brings everyone in,” she said.
“She was one of the first players I saw here on my first day and was really welcoming, and has always got a lot of chat, and it’s just nice to have a familiar face from GWS.”
The Crows’ AFLW team will be looking to put in a solid pre-season to back up their remarkable 2019 where the skilful and fit side won the grand final by defeating Carlton by 45 points in front of a record crowd of 53,034 at Adelaide Oval in March.