As the Crows mount their AFLW premiership defence, who will wear Matilda Jenna McCormick’s old No. 5 guernsey?

The Crows have unveiled the jumper numbers to be worn by players in their 2020 premiership defence. One returning player’ll wear a significant number. And who’ll get McCormick’s No. 5?

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AS Crows AFLW players, including two-time premiership co-captain Chelsea Randall and midfielder Ebony Marinoff, converged on Hindmarsh Stadium on Tuesday night to support their former team-mate Jenna McCormick in her Matildas’ appearance, the club has unveiled the player who will take on McCormick’s No. 5 from next year.

After winning two premierships in Crows colours, McCormick made the decision to hang up her footy boots and instead try to achieve her dream of representing Australia in soccer and it’s been announced that Adelaide’s new recruit and AFLW veteran Courtney Gum will wear McCormick’s old No. 5 guernsey for Adelaide’s 2020 premiership defence.

Gum, 38, retired from football earlier this year after two seasons with Greater Western Sydney, but was convinced to return in new colours for one year by Crows coach Matthew Clarke.

Crows AFLW players turned out in force to support their former team-mate Jenna McCormick play for the Matildas against Chile at Hindmarsh Stadium on Tuesday night including Stevie-Thompson (back left), Chelsea Randall, Marijana Rajcic and Dana Cox (final back row), and Ebony Marinoff and Eloise Jones (first two in front row). Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

McCormick has been placed on the Crows’ inactive list (which means should she decide to return to the AFLW, then Adelaide will have first choice in relisting her), and if the code-crosser returns in 2021, it is most likely her old guernsey number will be available again.

Meanwhile, returning player Ruth Wallace – who spent the 2019 season away from football – has changed her playing number from 15 and will become the first female indigenous player to wear the famed No. 18.

“It’s a privilege and an honour to wear a number that past players who have been Aboriginal,” Wallace told the Crows media team.

Crow Ruth Wallace is returning to the team after a year away from football and has changed her guernsey number. She is photographed in action in 2018. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

“There have been a lot of indigenous players that have worn number 18, obviously Eddie Betts, Graham Johncock and Troy Bond as well, so it is a privilege to have that number.

“Being Aboriginal myself, and Eddie is a role model of mine and I worked a bit with Troy Bond, running healthy lifestyle programs to tackle indigenous smoking, so it is awesome.”

Teenage defender Madison Newman, who was drafted by the Crows last month with pick 100, will wear No. 17, given it was the same number her father, Steve, wore during his 300-game career at Morphett Vale, while Caitlin Gould picked the No. 1, which was the same number she wore while representing South Australia in volleyball.

Madison Newman, pictured with her dad Steve at Richmond Oval, will wear jumper No. 17 in his honour. Picture: AAP Image/Sam Wundke

The Crows first pick at the AFLW draft, ruck Montana McKinnon, will wear No 21. McKinnon chose that number because it hasn’t been worn by a Crows AFLW player before, while defender Nicole Campbell picked number 20 to wear in 2020.

Midfielder Jaimi Tabb will don No. 28, while fellow midfielder Najwa Allen will run around in No. 8 and forward Chelsea Biddell will have number 12 on her back.