DOUBTS clouded Bianca Jakobsson's thoughts during her long, frustrating and often painful rehabilitation from a severe knee injury. 

Like so many footballers to endure reconstructive knee surgery and the tough recovery, Jakobsson admits to pondering retirement over the past two years. 

So, it was a massive bonus for Jakobsson when coach Damien Keeping named her the most influential Western Bulldogs player in Sunday's 13-point win against Western Australia in an AFL women's exhibition series game at Etihad Stadium. 

Teammates roared approval for the strong-marking half-forward they refer to as 'BJ', who was nearly lost to the game after tearing an ACL during the 2013 women's carnival in Cairns.

"I took two years off and this is my first year back playing at this level," Jakobsson said. 

"I took the year off (to recover from knee surgery) and then came back for a couple of games, but I didn't feel right. At that point I didn't know whether I could ever get back to the high level needed.

"I did all my rehab, had a good pre-season with the (Victorian) academy over summer, got strong and here I am. It's a great feeling.

"I was very nervous, a bit excited – all the things you feel before a game like this and it means a lot to me."

Playing as a high half-forward, Jakobsson kicked two vital goals to help stave off a second-half challenge from the powerful West Australian team. She also took nine marks in her impressive 22-possession performance.

"It's a surreal feeling, with a long time coming back from injury. I knew if we worked together we could get the job done against a full-strength West Australian side,'' she said.

Jakobsson, who plays with VWFL club Cranbourne, has thrived in the Victorian academy environment, which was set up in part to provide elite players with optimum development opportunities leading in to the AFL's national women's league starting next year.

"It was amazing. The support staff and the access we had to elite facilities, physios and coaches was so beneficial," Jakobsson said.

"We don't get all that in club footy. It bettered everyone as individuals and is such a good program."

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