By JARROD POTTER
HER next soccer challenge lies ahead in the famous blue and white colours.
Alex Gummer, 20, from Warragul, has taken another step ahead in her soccer career as she earned a spot on the Melbourne Victory’s W-League roster for the 2014/15 season.
Gummer will enter her second season in the W-League – Australia’s highest ranked women’s soccer league – after spending last year with Adelaide United.
“It’s been a long, long journey – I had to work hard on a few things and improve over the summer,” Gummer said.
“It’s good to get the call up.”
A mix of soccer opportunity and desire to graduate on time from her course guided Gummer’s decision to switch from the Lady Reds to the Victory.
“I’m really, really excited for the season – being home and being with my friends and family and playing in an amazing team environment – it will be amazing,” Gummer said.
“With the season starting earlier – I had to make a decision with my studies and that would delay my course by a whole extra year if I went back to Adelaide.
“By staying in Melbourne it helps me continue my studies as well.
“It’s a tough squad to break into – to get into the squad and from then on keep performing so we can get to the grand final and go back to back.”
Saying goodbye to the coaches, players and, most importantly, friends she made in Adelaide as a Lady Red was tough, but her soccer future required Gummer to make the tough choice to leave.
“It was incredibly hard – Ross and the coaching staff and all the girls, they were incredible and it was so hard to turn my back there after they gave me the first chance in the W-League,” Gummer said.
The former Casey Comets gun striker’s acquisition by Victory re-unites her with a lot of former team mates through the National Training Centre (NTC) program and with her Women’s Premier League team Booroondara.
Gummer has advanced as a utility player in recent seasons – adding strings to her bow while playing in Adelaide’s defence.
Those assets, she believes, gives her a greater arsenal for coach Joe Montemurro to use.
“Bit of a utility player – played for Adelaide centre back as well as in the midfield and forward line – bit of a utility player, so wherever the coach needs me to play,” she said.
“I can take any position on.”
Gummer’s Victory W-League side fell in the first round of the competition 0-1 to the Newcastle Jets.
The Victory faces Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday.
