Australian international Jessika Nash has been awarded the 2021 Collette McCallum Medal which celebrates the overall conduct and commitment of a female player representing Australia’s junior teams.
The award, which is a joint Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) and Football Australia (FA) initiative, is presented to a player whose conduct and character aligns with and amplifies the values of Australian football, honouring the contribution of former Young Matilda Collette McCallum.
As Nash prepares to represent Sydney FC in the A-League Women’s Grand Final this Sunday, the 17-year-old defender was surprised with the award by Sydney FC captain Natalie Tobin in front of her Sky Blues teammates at training.
“This award means so much to me and it is an absolute honour to be recognised for my commitment to this amazing sport,” Nash said.
“My first year and first national team call up was surreal, especially playing alongside some of the best players in the world and playing against the top ranked Women’s team [USWNT].
“I have been working hard for this goal [of representing the CommBank Matildas] for such a long time now. I would just like to thank my mum, my extended family and all my coaches along the way who have believed in me and have seen things in me that I haven’t even seen in myself.”
