KODI Jacques' first season in the AFLW is one of the hard and talented midfielder won't forget in a hurry.
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Inescapably, it will be forever linked in history with the coronavirus crisis and the early cancellation of the football season.
But the 19-year-old former Bendigo Pioneers star will have another more indelible and thrilling memory on which to draw after being crowned the AFLW Tigers' best first year player.
Jacques polled 16 votes to finish equal-fifth in the club's best and fairest award, won by young gun midfielder Monique Conti on 25 votes, ahead of dashing defender Phoebe Monahan on 22.
The best and fairest event was held online on Thursday night.
Jacques, who returned to live in Bendigo as Victoria went into lockdown due to COVID-19, said she was 'absolutely stoked' with her award win.
"I went into the night not expecting anything, I was more excited to jump on Zoom just to catch up with all the girls and to support the winners," she said.
"When it was announced I was very surprised.
"We would have liked to have had a lot more wins on the board, but these little accolades along the way are rewarding.
"But the big goal is to win games more than individual accolades."
The Tigers were without a win in six matches, when the regular season was halted in mid-March in response to the pandemic.
Jacques said the decision to eventually cancel the season brought mixed feelings - emotions which were quickly cast aside as the gravity of the health crisis unfolded across Australia and the world.
"It was very disappointing, but as I tell everyone, there are bigger problems in the world at the moment than us playing football," she said.
"I would have loved finishing the season out. We had two more games, and obviously weren't making finals, but the chance to get a win was something we wanted.
"It would have been nice to see AFLW 2020 have a premier, but I'm sure 2021 is going to be pretty exciting."
As I tell everyone, there are bigger problems in the world at the moment than us playing football.
- Kodi Jacques
Jacques, a former Heathcote netballer, played in all six of the Tigers' AFLW games, averaging 5.3 tackles and 8.2 disposals per game.
An undisputed highlight was her first league goal, which was booted in round four against Geelong, on her former home ground at the Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.
Undoubtedly Jacques' biggest take-away from her debut AFLW season was her growth as a player and person.
"The step-up in the standard from the VFLW to the AFLW was massive, but one of my biggest growth areas was my defensive pressure and tackling around the contest," she said.
"We didn't win many games, so I had to lay a fair few tackles, but I was more than happy to cops some bumps and bruises to have the other midfielders get their share of the ball.
"I love the defensive side of the game."
Jacques pinpointed her Melbourne housemate Conti - a genuine superstar of the competition at just 20 - and captain Katie Brennan as the strongest influences on her at Tigerland.
"I have said it before, I looked up to Katie when I was a young kid at 15 and absolutely idolised her," she said.
"To be able to play alongside her in my first year was absolutely outstanding; she really took me under her wing.
"She taught me how to be a better footballer and more importantly a better person as well.
"Mon is a young emerging leader - she will definitely be a captain of the team one day, I'm certain of that."
Making her best and fairest result even sweeter was Jacques finishing level on votes with her great friend and fellow Bendigo-export Grace Campbell.
The rising Tigers star could only marvel at the immense personal sacrifices and unwavering commitment of healthcare workers and nurses like Campbell on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19.
"We are always proud of Grace, even before corona she was working night-shifts, working day-shifts and then come to training and go straight back to night-shift," Jacques said of her team-mate, who has spent much time back at Bendigo Health during the crisis.
"She's an absolute trooper.
"What she's done for Australia in this pandemic has been absolutely amazing.
"We absolutely adore Grace and personally she is someone I really look up to."
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