The phone call that pulled Courtney Gum out of retirement

When Courtney Gum called time on her AFLW career back in April, she meant it.

After two seasons with the GWS GIANTS, the 38-year-old retired at the close of the 2019 season and returned to her home state of South Australia.

So when Crows coach Matthew Clarke called her out of the blue, asking questions about her future, it took her completely by surprise.

“I was very much retired, so when

randomly, Matt called me and asked how retired I actually was, my answer was ‘pretty retired’,” Gum told AFC Media. “But I’ve learnt over the years to be open to opportunities, so I didn’t want to put it aside there and then.

“I said I was open to conversations to see where it goes, and it went from there.”

After all, he had an offer she simply couldn’t refuse. “I really wanted to have a crack at home - growing up in Adelaide I was a Crows fan, my grandparents were mad Crows fans,” Gum said.

“I’ve got some really good friends in the Crows team too - it’ll be great to play with them again, the likes of Hatchy (Anne Hatchard) and Sophie Li.”

Having the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd, with her partner Krissie and son Buz by her side, was another draw card for joining the Club. “Buz has been exposed to so many environments - at the community level and at the elite level - and he really loves it,” Gum said.

“It’s great for Buz to see a female doing what they love and forging opportunities and making the most of them. “They’re great life skills for him to be exposed to.”

Outside of football, Gum works as a physiotherapist - an area of expertise that has given her the tools to keep her body strong over the years. “It’s been fantastic actually because I know how to manage loads and manage injuries myself,” Gum said.

“Particularly as an older body you’re just not as resilient anymore and you do get injuries.

“I know when things are just a little niggle and about loading, and when to flag other things.” Looking to 2020 and what she described as “almost certainly” her last year of AFLW, Gum had her sights set on the “ultimate goal”.

“My main goal as an individual would be to prep my body really well and play at the highest level I can,” Gum said.

“As a team, the Crows have two premierships and I don’t have any, so if you can take out a premiership as a really united team, that’s the ultimate goal.”