GIANTS midfielder Jessica Dal Pos has capped off a remarkable first AFL Women’s season, winning the club's inaugural Gabrielle Trainor Medal as Club Champion. 

In front of 200 guests at the Novotel, Sydney Olympic Park, the Victorian priority selection player stormed home to win the count by just two votes in the final round. 

Averaging 14 disposals per game for the GIANTS across the first ever AFLW season in 2017, Dal Pos played every game and finished the second in the competition for tackles and third for clearances.

“Jess has had a fantastic season - as soon as she hit the track in November, she has lead the way,” GIANTS AFLW coach Tim Schmidt said.

“Her competitiveness and drive to be the best she can be has been a major part of her success.

“I think getting out of the shadows of other top-line midfielders at club level has really given her the opportunity to show the competition what she is capable of.”

The historic win caps off a bright week for the 23-year-old, who was the GIANTS’ sole representative in the 2017 Virgin Australia AFLW All-Australian team on Tuesday night.

Dal Pos won the Gabrielle Trainor Medal with 179 votes from local Penrith defender Renee Tomkins (177 votes) and Canberra midfielder Britt Tully (169 votes).

Sitting in third place - 21 votes behind the leader - after the end of round four, Dal Pos scored big in the final three rounds with votes of 34, 21 and 35 enough to take out the inaugural Medal.

AFLW Coach Tim Schmidt, along with his three Assistant Coaches, vote on the Gabrielle Trainor Medal. Up to 10 votes can be awarded to a player by each coach every round, with each player able to receive a maximum of 40 votes per round. 

GIANTS Chairman Tony Shepherd said it was a special night for the club.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this playing group. They have earned a reputation for never surrendering, which doesn’t come easy,” Mr Shepherd said.

“Our players are inspiring the next generation and should be proud of what they have achieved in such a short space of time.

“We have always been a welcoming club committed to families, but to see so many young women and girls come along to training sessions and games this year has been a revelation.

“From day one our AFLW playing group became a part of the fabric of our club and has made the GIANTS an infinitely better organisation.”

The Club Champion award has been named after former GIANTS board member and current AFL Commissioner Gabrielle Trainor - who was on hand to present the honour for the first time - to recognise her contribution to the club and women’s football in New South Wales. 

Ms Trainor was an inaugural GIANTS board member as well as a member of the Team GWS advisory committee before joining the AFL Commission in March last year.  

Prior to joining the GIANTS, Ms Trainor also served on the AFL NSW/ACT Commission for ten years. She worked to support the then-fledgling Sydney Women’s AFL in its development and its relationship with the Commission. 

2017 Gabrielle Trainor Medal Top 10

  1. Jessica Dal Pos (179 votes)
  2. Renee Tomkins (177)
  3. Britt Tully (169)
  4. Amanda Farrugia (154)
  5. Nicola Barr (150)
  6. Rebecca Beeson (139)
  7. Erin McKinnon (138)
  8. Alex Williams (136)
  9. Phoebe McWilliams (128)
  10. Maddy Collier (126)

Award Winners 

2017 AFL Women’s Rising Star Award, presented by Harvey Norman
Erin McKinnon

2017 AFL Women’s Community Award, presented by FlexiGroup
Amanda Farrugia

2017 AFL Women’s Members Choice Award, presented by Sydney Airport
Amanda Farrugia

2017 AFL Women’s Mark of the Year, presented by Harvey Norman
Emma Swanson - Round 5 v Melbourne

2017 AFL Women’s Goal of the Year, presented by FlexiGroup
Aimee Schmidt - Round 2 v Carlton

2017 AFL Women’s Leading Goal Kicker, presented by Sydney Airport
Phoebe McWilliams

2017 AFL Women’s Coaches Award, presented by Grace Group
Britt Tully