DESPITE having retired at the end of last season, an opportunity to join the reigning premiers was too good for Adelaide recruit Courtney Gum to resist.

The 38-year-old called time on her AFLW career in April after two standout seasons with Greater Western Sydney, including being named the AFLPA's MVP last year and earning All Australian honours.

Crows coach Matthew Clarke contacted Gum to see if she was open to the idea of pulling the boots on again in 2020, but it was one she had to weigh up carefully before making her decision.

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"It absolutely took me a while," Gum said.

"I have a small business, a family, a child and I had mentally retired.

"First and foremost, I had to consider the financial impact that probably the last two seasons had on us as a family.

"I had to also make sure that physically I could get through another season at an appropriate level.

"(Clarke) was very good at giving me time and space to talk to my family and make those decisions."

Ultimately, it was the chance to extend her football career and the possibility of going out with a premiership that led Gum to committing to the Crows.

"I love sport and I love competing, the lure of that is really exciting," she said.

"I just want to play really well for the team and on an individual level as well and see out my career on a high.

"Hopefully, I can get some silverware.

"They've got it twice, but I haven't actually got any of the silverware."

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Gum joined her new teammates for the first time at West Lakes on Monday night as the Crows started pre-season training for the 2020 season.

She's already got some familiar faces having played alongside Renee Forth at the Giants, and with Anne Hatchard, Sophie Li and Ruth Wallace at Adelaide University.

As for her role next year, Gum is being earmarked to play as a key forward with Erin Phillips and Chloe Scheer likely to miss next season recovering from knee reconstructions.

"I certainly won't be a key midfielder," she said.

"I guess I'll be there in the role of a forward.

"I add a bit more experience in the forward line considering Erin is not there and they've got a fairly young forward line.

"I'm a bit of a bigger body so I don't think I'll be one of their running forwards."

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Gum runs a physiotherapy business and believes that will help her get her body through the season.

"As a physio, you're in a slightly better position to manage your own injuries, particularly at the age I am," she said.

"It's a good profession to have in terms of load management."