Through Jeremy McGovern’s darkest days, one shining memory helped him see the light.

The cult hero’s meteoric rise through the ranks has been well-documented.

After being drafted as a rookie in 2011, McGovern was promoted onto the senior list for the 2014 season, but he returned from holidays out of shape and was sent to train away from the group until he could meet the team’s fitness requirements.

He made his debut in round six that year and was universally acclaimed as one of the finds of the season, demonstrating excellent skills and great composure under pressure.

McGovern played 13 matches in his first season and has lined up for every game so far this year, providing a reliable target in a backline that has been decimated by injury.

West Coast’s chaplain Paul Morrison believes that a trip to Cambodia helped McGovern stay on track when he very nearly lost his way.

“When we were there in 2012, a young 20-year-old player had spent two days sweating his butt off building houses for people he’d never met,” Morrison began.

“This young man had grown up in central outback Australia and was no stranger to difficult communities.

“As we prepared to present the families with their new homes in a simple ceremony, he turned to the group and said, with tears in his eyes, ‘I feel like that’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.’

“At the beginning of last pre-season, that player had been set aside from the group because he’d come back from holidays out of condition.

“He came to me and said, ‘Morro, thinking about those people in Cambodia has got me through this time and helped me to keep going after my AFL dream.’

“That player was Jeremy McGovern, and if you haven’t heard of him, you will be soon, because he’s going to be a superstar.”

Morrison was speaking at the 2015 Sports Chaplaincy Association Champions Dinner at the MCG, where West Coast's initiatives in Cambodia were on Wednesday recognised with the prestigious Compassion in Sport Award.

Hosted by Glenn Ridge and sponsored by Compassion Australia, the dinner was a chance to celebrate chaplains who work in sporting clubs around Australia and pay tribute to the impact they have on sportspeople across the country.

Guests included Western Bulldog Will Minson and Melbourne Storm coach Nick Bellamy, as well as several chaplains from AFL clubs and a number of notable sporting identities from various codes.

The group was treated to an intimate address from former Australia Wallabies skipper Nick Farr-Jones and witnessed a moving performance from the Fijian and Vanuatu Rugby Choir.

Morrison was honoured to represent the club at this event and was delighted that the efforts of the players and coaching staff in Cambodia had been acknowledged.

Since 2010, groups of first and second year players have travelled to poverty-stricken communities to build homes for young families. During this time, the club has raised enough money to construct two schools, one of which was painted blue and gold and sparked a trend for other schools in the village.

Mothers of players have also been inspired by these efforts, working with Cambodian orphanages and hosting fundraising events to continue the club’s impact in this region.

Morrison said it was wonderful to be recognised for work that has been more of a pleasure for the club than a chore.

“It has in fact been a blessing for our club to be involved in Cambodia,” Morrison said.

“In the cut and thrust of elite sport, ‘compassion’ isn’t a word that gets thrown around too much, but every chaplain in this room will testify that genuine giving and altruism provide the richest rewards that money cannot.”