Justine Mules on balancing being a council labourer and an AFLW gun

Justine Mules’ typical day starts at 4.30am, working a 6am to 3pm shift as a labourer before heading to Crows AFLW training. She dreams of the day she can earn a living from the sport she loves.

Justine Mules works as a labourer for the Adelaide City Council. Picture Sarah Reed

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Justine Mules wakes up at 4.30am, works from 6am to 3pm and then trains with the Crows AFLW squad.

While she loves her job she hopes one day it isn’t part of her life and she can fully focus on footy as a professional player.

A labourer with the Adelaide City Council, Mules can have some long days – especially when you throw in training with the reigning premiers.

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“So my normal working hours are from 6am to 3pm,” the 25-year-old said.

“I try and wake up at 4.30 in the morning and have a big breakfast before the big day ahead of me.

“On a training day I get home about 3.30pm, try and have a 20 minute nap and then head to training.”

The labour work does help Mules with her upper body strength but the dual-premiership player is dreaming of when she can just focus entirely on footy.

“That would be ideal (paid enough) the skill level in our game would increase because we are full time athletes so that would be excellent,” she said.

“Hard to say (when she thinks that might occur) but every little chance helps and our skill level will increase when that day arrives.”

But Mules says she believes the skill level of the AFLW competition was on the rise, shown by the rapid strides of the Crows young players – especially their recent draftees.

“I’m a bit worried about my position in the side but that is fine,” she said.

AFLW Crows premiership player Justine Mules takes the premiership trophy to work at Adelaide City Council. Picture: Sarah Reed

That might be some time away though, as Mules has played all three of the Crows games this season.

Ahead of the grand final rematch against Carlton in Richmond on Sunday, she said the Crows were hitting their straps.,

“I think we have done really well, especially with such a young side as well,” she said.

Again much of the build-up will be centred around whether co-captain Erin Phillips makes her return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament – after coming close against Geelong last week.

“If it was up to Erin it would have been in Round 1,” Mules said.

“But she is doing all the right stuff with the medical department, ticking all the boxes.”

Originally published as Justine Mules on balancing being a council labourer and an AFLW gun