They often talk about men versus boys in footy. In Errol Gulden’s case, it was a boy versus men. And he smacked them.
When Gulden won the Rod Podbury Medal as best-on-ground in Sydney’s premier division grand final in 2019 as a 17-year-old, it was clear this teenager could handle himself. And could play footy.
A boy still in school proved the difference as he led UNSW-Eastern Suburbs to a grand final win in a physical contest over arch rival Sydney Uni and confirmed to the hierarchy at the Swans that another local product was ripe for the drafting.
“Sydney is probably not the most skilful league in the country but one thing they’ve always had in Sydney footy is a lot of physicality, there’s a lot of big bodies. I thought I handled it pretty well and it helped put me in good stead,” Gulden said.
“Kids in Victoria play good school footy and the TAC Cup, but I got to play against men. It was good for me.”
So, he was duly drafted the following year after another season with UNSW-Easts which this time ended in a losing GF as Sydney Uni exacted revenge to claim their first flag since the greats of 1992.
Three years later, 20-year-old Gulden has now jumped to second place in the 2023 Carey-Bunton Medal as the best NSW player in the AFL.
His five coaches’ votes with a career high 37 possessions against Collingwood in round eight took him to 12 votes, five behind leader Tom Hawkins.
Born and bred, and still living, in Malabar in Sydney’s east, Gulden is one of a crop of locals who are quickly transforming the Swans into a team that truly represents its city.
Together with Braeden Campbell and Marc Sheather who were in the same age group as him playing junior footy in Sydney, Nick Blakey and Sam Wicks a couple of years ahead and Callum Mills and Dane Rampe older still, they form a core of Sydney boys who have grown up to play for the Swans, while Isaac Heeny was only a few kilometres up the Pacific Highway in Cardiff, so definitely counts as a true blue local.
“I feel it definitely makes a big difference to the club when there’s so many locals playing,” Gulden said.
“It’s pretty unique these days to play for your local club. I’m really proud that I play footy for my home city team.”
But it’s not as if he grew up a passionate Swans supporter. Gulden grew up barracking for Carlton, thanks to his mum Bronwyn’s Bendigo heritage.
He started Auskick with Maroubra in his Blues jumper at the age of five and never looked back.
Playing junior footy for Maroubra, he made the NSW under15s team and took the next step to gain selection in the All Australian under16s the following year.
“I’ve always been quite a hard worker, even when I was 11 or 12 I’d go for a run on my own or do extra skills stuff, I loved training, and still do,” he said.
“When I made the All Australian team, I started to see some reward for all my hard work. It all clicked.”
And the prospect of making it in the AFL became sharper and, even though he was a Carlton supporter, there was one club on his mind.
“The Swans were easily my second team and I had that connection through the academy,” he said.
“From a young age you just have a goal to play for one club, not just to be drafted.”
But before he was drafted, he got to experience the highlight of his young footy life so far when he played his one and only season with big brother Adam for UNSW-Easts in 2020.
Adam, 11 years his senior, has been around - playing at UNSW-Easts, Sydney Uni, South Adelaide, captain of the Swans reserves and now in Darwin.
“He’s been the biggest influence on my footy, definitely. He was always a great help when I was young and we still talk footy now. It was great to play one season with him,” Gulden said.
Whether they involve Adam or not there’s plenty of highlights to come for young Errol.
CAREY BUNTON MEDAL - Round 8
17 Tom Hawkins (Geelong/ Finley)
14 Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans / UNSW-Eastern Suburbs) 5
12 Taylor Walker (Adelaide/ North Broken Hill)
11 Callum Mills (Sydney Swans / Mosman)
10 Jacob Hopper (Richmond / Leeton-Whitton) 2
8 Jeremy Finalyson (Port Adelaide / Culcairn)
8 Nick Blakey (Sydney Swans/ UNSW-Eastern Suburbs)
9 Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast Suns/ Sydney University)
8 Dane Rampe (Sydney Swans / UNSW-Eastern Suburbs)
6 Jack Buckley (GWS Giants / UNSW-Eastern Suburbs)
5 Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans/ Cardiff)
5 Will Setterfield (Essendon / Albury)
4 Lachlan Shultz (Fremantle/ Moama)
4 Harry Perryman (GWS Giants / Collingullie-Glenfield Park)
3 Isaac Smith (Geelong / Cootamundra)
3 Todd Marshall (Port Adelaide/ Deniliquin)
BILL MOHR MEDAL - Leading Goalkickers Round 8
23 Tom Hawkins (Geelong/ Finley) 1
18 Taylor Walker (Adelaide/ North Broken Hill) 3
11 Jeremy Finalyson (Port Adelaide / Culcairn) 1
11 Todd Marshall (Port Adelaide/ Deniliquin) 1
10 Lachlan Schultz (Fremantle/ Moama) 1
10 Harry Himmelberg (Adelaide/ Mangoplah- Cookardina United Eastlakes) 1
7 Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans/ Cardiff)
6 Charlie Spargo (Melbourne/ Albury)
5 Luke Breust (Hawthorn / Temora)
4 Callum Mills (Sydney Swans / Mosman)
4 Jacob Hopper (Richmond / Leeton-Whitton) 1
3 Isaac Smith (Geelong / Cootamundra) 1
3 Daniel Lloyd (GWS Giants / Killarney Vale) 1
3 Harry Perryman (GWS Giants / Collingullie-Glenfield Park)
3 Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast Suns/ Sydney University)
3 Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans/ UNSW-Eastern Suburbs)
2 Matthew Kennedy (Carlton/ Collingullie-Glenfield Park) 1
2 Will Setterfield (Essendon/ Albury)
2 Harry Cunningham (Sydney Swans / Turvey Park)
2 Nick Blakey (Sydney Swans/ UNSW-Eastern Suburbs)
1 Matthew Flynn (GWS Giants/ Narrandera)
1 Elliot Himmelberg (Adelaide/ Mangoplah- Cookardina United Eastlakes)
1 Braeden Campbell (GWS Giants/ Pennant Hills)
Simon Kelly Fun Fact - Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans / UNSW-Eastern Suburbs) in his 51st game had a career high 37 possessions which got him 5 Coaches votes against Collingwood.
