Veteran Courtney Gum has announced her AFLW retirement following the GIANTS’ 31-point win over Geelong at UNSW Canberra Oval on Friday night in the final round of the NAB AFL Women’s season.
The 37-year-old has been a star of the GIANTS midfield since being selected with pick 25 in the 2017 NAB AFLW Draft.
She took out the AFLW Players’ Most Valuable Player award last season, as well as being named in the Virgin Australia All-Australian team and finishing runner up in the GIANTS’ Gabrielle Trainor medal.
After being a strong and noticeable presence up forward for the GIANTS in their final game of 2019, Gum said the time was right for her to retire after playing two full AFLW seasons.
“(It was) a short career, but it was sweet,” she told Fox Footy before being chaired off by her teammates.
“I’m ready to retire, my body’s ready to retire.
“Just at the end I took a moment to take in the field when I knew we were going to come away with the win.
“(It was) an amazing win – that’s how we wanted to play all season.
“I’m just really, really, really grateful to have gotten the opportunity that some girls didn’t get.
“It’s been amazing.”
