Captain courageous puts team first after ACL rupture

There is a heartbreaking side to the stirring run that the Swan Districts team in the WAFLW is on right now with captain Jess Cox just having undergone ACL surgery, but showing why she's such an outstanding leader, she is enjoying seeing how well the team is performing.

Cox is in her second season as captain of the Swan Districts team in the WAFLW competition, and she was having an outstanding 2023 campaign averaging 16.6 possessions over the opening eight matches.

That included her being named to the WAFLW Team of the Week on four separate occasions highlighting her quality performances to be well on the way to a Team of the Year quality season.

However, individual tragedy then struck the 22-year-old 2021 fairest and best winner when Cox ruptured her ACL during the Round 10 victory against West Perth at Joondalup's Pentanet Stadium.

She has now since had the reconstructive surgery on her knee which means that she has a near 12-month road to recovery ahead of her which is a horror blow for a Swan Districts team now sitting third on the WAFLW ladder and that is on a seven-game winning streak.

As always, though, Cox is putting the team first and will be helping in any way she can now for the rest of the 2023 season which now looks like it will include another finals appearance.

"Unfortunately, I won’t be able to finish off the season as I had have hoped for but look forward to getting into rehab early and doing the right things in readiness for getting back on the field," Cox said.

"My role will look different on game day and I am looking forward to viewing the game through a different lens. This opportunity will enable me to share my knowledge of football but still continue to support my team mates whilst we navigate the season ahead."

As for the team as a whole, it was a shaky start for Swan Districts to the WAFLW season losing the opening four matches of 2023.

However, since then it's been a stunning seven-game winning streak and Cox couldn’t be happier with what her team has done to get things on track.

"It’s been a credit to the girls for trusting the process and to keep working hard. The drive and determination to play our best footy for each other and the team has been the key and it is privilege to see this turn around in the season," she said.

"There is sense of connection and belonging around the group right now with seven straight wins on the board. However, its super important for us as a group to stay focused on the journey and remain humble. We have some big games ahead of us and we want to keep playing our best footy."

Even during those opening four losses to start the season, Cox and the rest of the Swan Districts had faith things would soon come together, and for good reason as it turns out.

"We always have the belief that when we can achieve collectively, it only allows us to accomplish more," Cox said.

"It is vital that we stick with trusting each other and continue to do so whilst we move towards the pointy end of the season. The leadership team at Swans have a strong connection, a shared vision and complement each other."

As for what has made Cox happiest to see what the team has been able to do to now have won seven straight matches, it's just the way they stuck together that stands out beyond everything.

"I’ve been really proud of the girls and how they have shown resilience and perseverance throughout the season," she said.

"We stuck together in the tough games but kept striving. Our team is diverse, we all have come from different backgrounds and all bring something different to the table, that bit of magic that we sprinkle around is something that keeps our supporters watching."

The WAFLW season is entering its last month of the home and away campaign with Swans to finish after this weekend's bye away to the league-leading Claremont, away to the fourth placed East Fremantle and at home to South Fremantle.

That means Swans will be playing the other three top four teams in the last three games which will be the perfect preparation for what Cox is hoping can be a successful finals campaign.

"Finals footy brings out the best of us, playing good footy and making the finals has been the goal throughout the season," Cox said.

"We want to keep playing our brand of footy, as in any team there are always things to improve on but we won’t shy away from the challenge. Who doesn’t want to play top quality footy?

"We want to raise the bar, the profile of female football and Swans Districts to be a designation club to play at. It is super important to not get ahead of ourselves, do the work and keep chipping away on the things we need to get better at so that come the last game of the season we are in it."

Above everything else, Cox wanted to say thank you and pay tribute to all the support the Swan Districts team receives.

"I would like to thank the families and volunteers that get behind our team each and every week," Cox said.

"We know you ride the wave of the season with us but we are forever indebted to your unwavering support. Shout out to the coaching staff and officials, we know what you sacrifice to be part of this team.

"GO SWANNIES!"