Crows forward Eloise Jones knows firsthand how hard athletes can be on themselves.
Jones, who was sidelined with an Achilles injury for much of the 2024 season, had been her harshest critic - both while she was playing and during parts of her rehab.
But while injured and watching from the coaches’ box, she made a decision to become the team’s ultimate hype girl, not only helping her teammates, but also her own mental health.
“As elite athletes, you are the first to know when you’ve mucked up or you’ve done something wrong and you can be really hard on yourself,” Jones said.
“In my mind, I tried to change the narrative - through every game I’d write down when every player did something well, or a moment, I’d get the coaches to code it, and just be really positive in that space.
“I’d remind the girls how valuable they are to this team and how far we can go.”
Now, almost 12 months on from when she ruptured her Achilles, Jones is not only back featuring in an on-field capacity, but is also on the cusp of reaching a special milestone, with her 75th AFLW game coming up this weekend.
Helping others has been a key facet of Jones’ journey, and returning to the field this season has not stopped the 26-year-old from building on that trait.
“We’ve got a couple of girls with some injuries now, so it’s been cool to understand how to deal with it and what they’re going through,” Jones said.
“I try to get around them, be available as much as I can and answer any questions they might have.
“I’ve messaged (Caitlin Gould) and she’s in good spirits, she’s had surgery on her wrist, and it's all ticking off now.
“We’ll give her some time to rehab and get back, and whenever she’s ready and fully fit, we’ll welcome her back with open arms.”
Despite the season-long injury in 2024, Jones’ career has gone from strength-to-strength, since being selected at the 2017 AFLW Draft.
Jones quickly cemented herself as one of the key cogs in the Crows’ side and was part of the Crows’ 2019 and 2022 (Season Six) Grand Final wins.
Since returning from the Achilles in Round One this year, Jones has booted five goals and averaged 12 disposals.
In her second consecutive season in the Crows’ Leadership Group, Jones said reaching 75 games meant a lot, especially after her extended period on the sidelines.
“It’s a massive privilege to reach that milestone,” Jones said.
“The Club showed great faith in me by picking me up and they’ve stuck by my side ever since.
“It’s a great milestone for AFLW, so I am excited and hopefully we can get a win.
“To be able to come back this year - my biggest thing was that if I could play my role and execute on game day, that’s all I really wanted to do.”
The Crows will look to cap Jones’ milestone with a win when they face Gold Coast at People First Stadium on Sunday at 4.35pm (ACST).
The match will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo.
