Pearce began her state league career in 2005 with the Darebin Falcons in the Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL), captaining the club from 2008 to 2016 and playing around 200 games until her final match in 2017. She is a ten-time premiership player (seven times as captain), seven-time league best and fairest winner in the VWFL and VFL Women's (VFLW) competitions and five-time Darebin best and fairest winner. She represented Victoria at both under-19 and senior level, and was recruited by Melbourne with the first selection in the inaugural national women's draft in 2013 for the first women's exhibition game.
Pearce was a marquee signing for Melbourne's AFL Women's team leading into the competition's first season in 2017. At AFLW level, Pearce is a three-time AFL Women's All-Australian (including as captain of the 2017 team and vice-captain of the 2018 team) and captained Melbourne to its first AFL Women's premiership in season 7. She is a four-time AFLPA AFLW best captain and three-time Melbourne best and fairest winner, with the latter named in her honour in 2023. The VFL Women's best and fairest award, of which Pearce was the inaugural recipient in 2016, was also named partly in her honour in 2018.
Following her playing retirement, Pearce transitioned into coaching. She was as a development coach with the Geelong Football Club's Australian Football League (AFL) team in 2023, and has served as West Coast's AFLW senior coach since 2024.
Outside her playing and coaching career, Pearce became an established media personality in both television and radio. She is an expert commentator for the Seven Network and 1116 SEN's AFL coverage; she appeared on the Seven Network program AFL Game Day as a rotating panel member from 2016 until the show's cancellation in 2020 and hosted her own podcast on SEN, This Is Grit, in 2019.
Early life
Daisy Pearce was born on 27 May 1988[6] in Bright, Victoria,[a] to parents Daryl and Dee.[4] She has two brothers, Will and Harry; two younger half-siblings, Ruby and Ali, through her mother;[4] and an older half-brother, Aaron, through her father.[8] Her parents separated in 1995[8] and her mother and brothers relocated to the Melbourne suburb of Eltham while Daisy remained with her father in Wandiligong, near Bright in the Alpine Shire area,[4] where she attended Bright P-12 College.[7] When Pearce was a teenager, she returned to live with her mother and the rest of the family,[4] and attended Eltham High School.[7]
As a child, Pearce supported the Carlton Football Club, and one of her favourite players was Carlton premiership player and former captain Brett Ratten.[9] She was enrolled in the Vickick program, which later became Auskick, and played junior football alongside boys as a child.[10] Her father was a coach at the Bright Football Club, which allowed Pearce to begin training with the under-13 boys team from the age of eight;[10] she played alongside her brother Harry[11] and future Collingwood premiership defender Ben Reid.[4] Pearce needed dispensation from the local league to continue playing alongside boys as a teenager,[10] but was disallowed, which played a part in her decision to move to Eltham.[4] At high school, she took up netball, tennis and volleyball, making a national youth squad for the latter, before eventually picking up football again.[4]
Early playing career
State league and representative football
Pearce (centre) kicking the ball during the 2017 VFL Women's Grand Final
Pearce began playing with Darebin in the premier division of the Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL) in 2005 at the age of 16, winning the Lisa Hardeman Medal in her first season[7] and going on to play roughly 200 games with the women-only football club.[12] In 2007, Darebin went through the VWFL season undefeated, defeating Melbourne University in the grand final, and Pearce was named among the best players in the grand final.[13] Darebin would go on to win five VWFL premierships in a row, before losing to St Albans in the grand final in 2011; Pearce, who had by then become captain, was named Darebin's best player in the loss.[14] In 2013 and 2014, Darebin went through both seasons undefeated,[15] defeating Diamond Creek by 49 points in the 2013 grand final[16] and 30 points in the 2014 grand final; Pearce was best afield in the latter.[15] She featured in Darebin's third consecutive grand final win over Diamond Creek in 2015.[17] During her career in the VWFL, Pearce won the Darebin best and fairest award five times[7] and the Helen Lambert Medal as the VWFL's best and fairest player six times.[18]
Pearce was a member of the Australian team that played against Ireland in the 2006 Ladies' International Rules Series which, as of 2016, remains the only women's series to have taken place.[19] In June 2007, at the age of 19, she was one of two VWFL representatives, alongside Shannon McFerran, named to play in the E. J. Whitten Legends Game; Pearce was named in the Victorian team while McFerran was named for the All Stars, marking the first time female players were included in the annual charity match.[20] Pearce captained the Victoria under-19 team at the 2007 AFL Women's National Championships; she was named in the championships' All-Australian team and won the award for joint-player of the tournament.[21] Pearce was named in the leadership group for the Victorian senior team at the 2009 championships[22] and was again named in the championships' All-Australian team.[23] She was named deputy vice-captain for Victoria at the 2011 championships.[24]
Pearce receiving her premiership medallion following the 2017 VFL Women's Grand Final
In March 2016, the VFL Women's (VFLW) was launched and Darebin was named among ten teams from the VWFL to participate in Victoria's new state league competition.[25] Pearce won the inaugural VFL Women's best and fairest award and played in the first VFLW premiership in 2016 as Darebin defeated Melbourne University.[26] She played in Darebin's grand final win over Diamond Creek in 2017, kicking a goal and receiving praise from coach Jane Lange for her leadership and commitment as Darebin won its fifth consecutive state league premiership[27] and tenth in twelve seasons.[28]
Women's exhibition games
In May 2013, the Australian Football League (AFL) announced that a women's exhibition game would be held for the first time during its annual Women's Round, involving AFL clubs Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.[29] Fifty of the top female footballers in Australia were selected in the inaugural national women's draft later that month to play for the two clubs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in a curtain raiser to the AFL match between the clubs in June; Pearce was recruited by Melbourne with the first selection in the draft,[30] and was later named as Melbourne's captain.[31] She was adjudged best afield with 28 disposals in the first exhibition game, which Melbourne won by 32 points[32] in front of a crowd of almost 8,000.[33] A second exhibition game between the two clubs, again played as a curtain raiser to the men's match and this time at Etihad Stadium, was announced in June 2014;[34] Pearce was named among Melbourne's best players in its 46-point win.[35]
In February 2015, the AFL announced that two women's exhibition games would be played that year between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, the first to be played at the MCG in May and the second to be played at Etihad Stadium in August.[36] Pearce was named among Melbourne's best players with 23 disposals in the first match, which Melbourne won by eight points,[37] and was best afield with 30 disposals in the second match, which Melbourne won by four points.[38] Later that year, she was named as the inaugural winner of the club's best female player award, polling five out of a possible six votes from the two matches.[39] In February 2016, the AFL announced a ten-match national exhibition series to be played throughout the year,[40] in which Melbourne played two games against the Western Bulldogs in March and September,[41] as well as a match against a Brisbane Lions women's team at the MCG in May.[42] Pearce was best afield with 33 disposals and eleven marks in the first match, which Melbourne lost by 20 points,[43] and was named among Melbourne's best players in its 71-point win over Brisbane.[44] She was Melbourne's best player in its 39-point loss to the Bulldogs in September;[45] the match was watched by an average audience of 387,000 people in Melbourne, which was greater than the average viewing audience for every Saturday night game during the 2016 AFL home-and-away season,[46] as well as a national audience peak of over one million people.[47]
AFL Women's playing career
2017–2019: Midfield seasons and pregnancy
Pearce playing for Melbourne in 2017
In July 2016, Pearce and Melissa Hickey were announced as Melbourne's two marquee players for the inaugural AFL Women's season in 2017.[48] Pearce was announced as the club's first AFLW captain in January 2017.[49] She made her AFL Women's debut in Melbourne's inaugural match in round 1 against Brisbane at the club's home ground, Casey Fields, and was listed among her team's best players in the loss, recording 19 disposals and nine tackles.[50] Pearce was among Melbourne's best players in every game for the season;[51][52][53][54][55][56] she was named by the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) as "Player of the Week" for round 4 after recording 29 disposals and six tackles in Melbourne's win against Carlton[57] and was awarded the maximum three votes for the AFL Women's best and fairest award in Melbourne's round 6 match against Adelaide.[58] Following the home-and-away season, she revealed that she played the first two rounds with an injury after sustaining bone bruising and a corked calf in the opening round, and had sat out training for the entire week leading into round 2.[59] At the end of the season, Pearce was named captain of the 2017 AFL Women's All-Australian team.[60] She won the inaugural Melbourne best and fairest award[61] and AFLPA AFLW best captain award,[62] and was one of three Melbourne players nominated by her teammates for the AFLPA AFLW most valuable player award.[63] She averaged 21.9 disposals, the most of any player in the inaugural season.[59] Melbourne re-signed Pearce for the 2018 season during the trade and signing period in May.[64] She then captained Victoria in the inaugural AFL Women's State of Origin match on 2 September in front of a crowd of 9,400,[65] where she was adjudged best afield with 37 disposals in the 97-point win.[9]
Pearce during a pre-season practice match with Melbourne in 2018
In January 2018, Pearce was re-elected as Melbourne captain.[66] She was among Melbourne's best players in four of its first five matches of the season,[67][68][69][70] polling the maximum three AFL Women's best and fairest votes in Melbourne's loss to Fremantle in round 3.[71] Pearce polled a game-high nine votes for the AFL Coaches Association (AFLCA) AFLW champion player of the year award in rounds 1[72] and 3[73] and the maximum ten votes in round 5,[74] and was selected in afl.com.au's Team of the Week in the same rounds.[75][76][77] At the end of the season, Pearce was named vice-captain of the 2018 AFL Women's All-Australian team,[78] and again won the Melbourne best and fairest award[79] and AFLPA AFLW best captain award.[80] She was again nominated by her teammates for the AFLPA AFLW most valuable player award.[81] Melbourne signed Pearce for the 2019 season during the trade and signing period in May.[82] However, on 31 August, Pearce announced her pregnancy with twins,[83] which would result in her missing the 2019 season; she was retained as an inactive player,[5] and Elise O'Dea and Shelley Scott were eventually announced as co-captains in her place.[84]
Pearce continued to mentor and work with Melbourne players in an unofficial assistant coach role when they returned for pre-season training in November 2018,[85] and gave birth to twins in February 2019.[86] By April, she was back to her playing weight,[87] and later that month, she re-signed with Melbourne for the 2020 season.[5] In July 2019, Pearce returned to the club to train three days a week as part of what she called her "pre-pre-pre-season" for 2020, adding that she was surprised by how her body had responded after her twins' birth,[88] and resumed training with her Melbourne teammates three weeks later.[89] In August, Pearce was announced as an assistant coach to Dermott Brereton for the Victorian team in that year's E.J. Whitten Legends Game.[90]
2020–2021: Return to football and position shifts
Pearce post-match with Melbourne in 2021
Pearce was reinstated as Melbourne captain in January 2020. Coach Mick Stinear said, "With her knowledge of our game plan, and her ability to instruct, support and give feedback on and off the field, she's just the ideal person to lead this group".[91] She ran a personal best time over two kilometres in the lead-up to the season.[92] Later that month, Pearce made a successful return to football, playing the first three quarters of Melbourne's practice match win against Collingwood.[93] Leading into the season, womens.afl journalist Sarah Black named Pearce at no. 5 on her list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.[94] Pearce played her first AFLW match in 694 days in Melbourne's win over North Melbourne in round 1,[95] playing in a new role as a defender.[96] Pearce was named among Melbourne's best players in five of its six home-and-away matches for the season;[97][98][99][100][101] she polled eight coaches' votes in round 2[102] and five in round 3,[103] and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week for round 2.[104] After round 6, the last two home-and-away rounds were abandoned and a modified finals series was brought forward due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,[105] allowing Melbourne to qualify for finals for the first time.[106] Pearce was among Melbourne's best players with 22 disposals in its semi-final win over Greater Western Sydney,[107] before the finals were cancelled with no premiership awarded due to the pandemic.[108] Pearce was selected in the initial 40-woman squad for the 2020 AFL Women's All-Australian team,[109] and was voted as the AFLPA AFLW best captain[110] and nominated by her teammates for the AFLPA AFLW most valuable player award for the third time.[111]
Leading into the 2021 season, Pearce was named as Melbourne captain for a fourth season,[112] and was named by Sarah Black at no. 9 on her annual list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.[113] Prior to the opening game of the season, Pearce said that she had been "squeezed out of the midfield, officially" and would continue to primarily play at half-back while still making small appearances in the midfield.[114] Pearce polled the maximum three AFL Women's best and fairest votes in Melbourne's round 1 win against Gold Coast.[115] She was named among Melbourne's best players in its win over St Kilda in round 6 after moving to the forward line and kicking two goals,[116] and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week for that round.[117] Pearce was named among Melbourne's best players in round 8 after kicking a goal and setting up the match-winning goal in the club's close win over Fremantle, which assured its position in that year's finals series.[118] She injured the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in her right knee[119] in the opening two minutes of Melbourne's close win over Brisbane the following week after her leg was caught underneath her in a tackle,[120] which ruled her out of Melbourne's qualifying final win against Fremantle[121] and preliminary final loss to Adelaide.[122] Following the preliminary final, Pearce placed second in that year's AFLPA AFLW best captain award behind Western Bulldogs captain Ellie Blackburn;[123] she revealed the next day that she had suffered a small tear to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee in the round 9 game, and that she would have surgery to repair the MCL while allowing the ACL to heal naturally.[124]
2022: 13-goal season, premiership and retirement
Pearce post-match with Melbourne in 2022
Pearce was named as Melbourne captain for a fifth season leading into season 6,[125] continuing in her forward role from midway through the previous season.[126] Stinear said that she was the strongest he had ever seen her; Pearce said that she had focused more heavily on weights and more of a strength and power focus over running during the pre-season.[126] She polled the maximum three AFL Women's best and fairest votes in Melbourne's round 1 win over the Western Bulldogs[127] and was among Melbourne's best players in its loss to Adelaide in round 4, kicking two of the team's three goals for the game.[128] At the halfway point of the season, Pearce was equal-third in the competition for average score involvements with 4.4 per game.[129] She was among Melbourne's best players in its win over Brisbane in round 7, shifting back into defence during the match to record 15 disposals;[130] she received five coaches' votes[131] and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week for round 7.[132] Pearce was among Melbourne's best players with five goals in its record-breaking win over Fremantle in round 9,[133] becoming Melbourne's first AFLW player[134] and the fourth AFLW player overall to kick five goals in a match;[135] she received the maximum ten coaches' votes,[136] was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week for round 9[137] and polled the maximum three AFL Women's best and fairest votes.[127] She was among Melbourne's best players in its win over Carlton in round 10, kicking two goals and alternating between attack and defence to help Melbourne secure a top-two finish at the end of the home-and-away season.[138] Pearce played in Melbourne's preliminary final win over Brisbane in the first AFLW match played at the MCG to help the club progress to the 2022 AFL Women's season 6 Grand Final, its first grand final appearance.[139] She was named in Champion Data's 2022 AFLW All-Star stats team after leading the competition for score involvements with 1.5 per game and kicking 13 goals in ten games,[140] was named in the 2022 AFL Women's season 6 All-Australian team, her third All-Australian selection,[141] and was voted as the AFLPA AFLW best captain for the fourth time in her career.[142] Pearce played in Melbourne's loss to Adelaide in the grand final, playing a key role in defence and on the wing.[143] Following the grand final, she won her third Melbourne best and fairest award by a single vote.[144] In May, Pearce said that she would continue playing for "at least one more" season,[145] with the competition's seventh season taking place later in the year.[146]
Pearce during a half-time break with Melbourne in 2022
In August, Pearce was named at no. 25 in Sarah Black's season 7 list of the top 30 players in the AFLW[147] and was named as Melbourne captain for a sixth season.[148] She kicked a goal from eight disposals in Melbourne's round 1 win over Adelaide, playing a negating role on Adelaide defender Sarah Allan as part of her role to "keep [Adelaide's] intercept (possession) game to a minimum".[149] Pearce was among Melbourne's best players in its win over North Melbourne in round 2 with two goals.[150] In the lead-up to her 50th AFLW game, Pearce said that while she would "love" an AFLW premiership, "It's less about ticking that box and having a premiership than it is about love for the game [...] I think I'll walk away still really fulfilled and feeling like the game has given me so much".[151] She played her 50th game in Melbourne's win over Gold Coast in round 8, kicking a goal from 11 disposals and six marks.[152] Pearce kicked the winning goal in Melbourne's preliminary final win over North Melbourne to help the club progress to the 2022 AFL Women's season 7 Grand Final, its second consecutive grand final appearance.[153] She played in Melbourne's premiership win over Brisbane the following week,[154] one of five inaugural Melbourne players (the others being Sarah Lampard, Lily Mithen, Karen Paxman and Lauren Pearce; Stinear was also their inaugural coach[155]) to do so.[156] In January 2023, Pearce announced her playing retirement.[157]
Pearce holding the premiership cup with Mick Stinear (top) and showing off her premiership medallion following the 2022 AFL Women's season 7 Grand Final (bottom)
Pearce kicking (top) and handballing a football (bottom)
Pearce was known for being a smart,[161] skilled[118] and composed player[162] who directed play on-field.[96][163] Longtime Melbourne coach Mick Stinear described Pearce as an "on-field coach"[162] while teammate Shelley Heath described her as "essentially another coach on the ground".[142]
Pearce began her AFL Women's career playing primarily as a midfielder, having achieved most of her recognition playing in that position;[96][43][48] her average of 21.9 disposals per game in 2017 was the highest of any player.[59] Upon her return to football in 2020 after the birth of her twins, Pearce began playing solely as a defender[96] before shifting to playing primarily as a forward from midway through the 2021 season;[162] the five goals that she kicked in round 9 of season 6 were the most in a game by a Melbourne AFLW player.[134]
Early coaching career
In October 2021, Pearce was among eight women, including five current and former AFLW players, selected in the AFL's women's coaching academy for 2022; she completed a national AFL level three coaching accreditation course as part of the academy,[164] designed to "accelerate the next generation of female coaches" in Australian rules football,[165] and was mentored by former Darebin and St Kilda coach Peta Searle as part of the twelve-month program.[164]
By March 2022, Pearce was considering an assistant coaching role for Geelong's AFL team; she had earlier been offered the position of Essendon's inaugural AFLW coach and turned it down after serious consideration.[166] Later that month, she joined the AFL Academy as a coach of its women's program.[167] In June 2022, Pearce accepted a coaching position at Geelong as part of the AFL's women's coaching acceleration program.[168] She was one of four current AFLW players and nine women overall to receive a position at a club; the program enabled the successful women to start their role anytime before 2025, which allowed Pearce to continue playing until she decided to begin in the role.[168]
Pearce began her role as a development coach with Geelong in February 2023, having signed a four-year contract.[169] While in her commentary role for the Seven Network, she was refused entry into Richmond's change rooms following its round 1 draw against Carlton due to her coaching position, a decision which Richmond senior club advisor Neil Balme later clarified was a sign of respect for Pearce's intelligence: "I know I'd trust her to the point that (gathering intelligence is) not what she is there for [...] but to be able to do both jobs is a bit difficult at times".[170] The Brisbane Lions later put the same ban on Pearce, with senior coach Chris Fagan saying that it was a hard decision and either choice was acceptable.[171]
AFL Women's coaching career
Pearce pre-match with West Coast in 2024
2024–present: First season
In December 2023, Pearce was announced as West Coast's new AFLW senior coach on a three-year contract, replacing Michael Prior,[172] with the club describing the appointment as "one of the biggest recruiting coups of [its] history" in a club statement.[173] The appointment made Pearce the third former AFLW player to become a senior coach, following Lauren Arnell and Lisa Webb,[174] and was later named at no. 1 on afl.com.au's list of the ten biggest stories of the 2023 AFL Women's season.[175] Pearce first coached West Coast in two unofficial practice matches during the off-season, a two-point win over Gold Coast in April[176] and a 14-point loss to Fremantle in May,[177] followed in August by a 56-point loss to Fremantle in a pre-season match simulation[178] and a 32-point loss to St Kilda in a practice match.[179] In week 1, in her first official match as an AFLW coach, Pearce coached West Coast to a one-point win over Richmond,[180] followed by a 16-point loss to Essendon in week 2.[181] She coached West Coast to an eleven-point win over the Western Bulldogs in week 3, overseeing West Coast's best start to an AFLW season with two wins from its first three matches,[182] followed by a 17-point win over Collingwood in one of weeks 4's matches, marking the first time the club won consecutive AFLW matches and the first time it won three matches in a season, after only four matches.[183] Pearce coached West Coast to a 45-point loss to reigning premier Brisbane in the other week 4 match,[184] followed by a 24-point win over Greater Western Sydney in week 5, in which the club recorded its highest AFLW score of 10.4 (64) to place in the top eight on the ladder after six matches;[185] however, West Coast would lose its final five matches of the season to finish 13th.[186]
Pearce is an expert commentator for the Seven Network's AFL coverage on television[189] and AFL Nation's AFL coverage for 1116 SEN on radio.[190] In 2016, Pearce began appearing as a panel member on the Seven Network program AFL Game Day;[189] she was set to continue in the role in 2020[191] before the show was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[192] In 2018, Pearce began appearing on the SEN morning shows SEN Breakfast (with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson) and Whateley (with Gerard Whateley),[193] and in 2019, she hosted This Is Grit, a weekly podcast series on SEN focusing on sportswomen.[194] In 2021, she co-hosted The W Show for AFL Media alongside Nat Edwards, where they analysed and discussed AFL Women's news and topics.[195] She previously provided special comments for radio network Triple M in 2017[196] and has written columns for newspaper The Age.[197]
Pearce was a boundary rider for Seven's coverage of the AFL Grand Final in 2018 and 2019.[189] In 2021, she became the first woman to provide special comments for Seven's coverage of the grand final, and was widely praised by fans and media for her commentary.[198] Pearce won the award for Best Opinion/Analysis – TV/Radio at the 2021 Australian Football Media Association Awards, with the AFMA commenting: "Daisy's football knowledge is incredible and she leaves viewers with a better appreciation of the game".[199] Pearce was shifted to Seven's Friday night commentary team for the 2022 season,[200] before moving to Thursday nights in 2023 upon commencing her coaching role with Geelong's AFL team.[201]
Advocacy
Pearce appearing on the Seven Network before the first AFLW match in 2017
Pearce has advocated for both men and women to commentate and talk about women's football in the media.[202][203] After Tiffany Cherry spoke out against the Nine Network in February 2018 for failing to stand up for gender equality after being replaced by Clint Stanaway as host of the Nine program Women's Footy, Pearce said, "I enjoy seeing men working across and well-informed football commentators talking about [women's football]... why can't we see men working across the AFL Women's competition?"[202][203] She said that if there was a belief that only women should call AFLW games and only men should call AFL games, "It's almost as if we are taking a few steps back".[202][203] Pearce believed that this applied to coaching, saying that while she supported women coaching in football, she wanted "the best coach that's out there" to coach her, describing Stinear as "the best coach for the job" at Melbourne.[203]
One of several high-profile players to speak out during the AFLW's 2020–2022 collective bargaining agreement negotiations in 2019, Pearce supported the AFL Players Association and the AFL's deal to gradually extend the length of AFLW seasons over the three-year period[e] and played down talks of a crisis developing after a group of players considered splitting from the AFLPA to create their own players union.[205] She believed that broader talks between the AFLPA and AFLW players, which would allow more players to speak directly to the AFLPA, would result in an agreement that would satisfy all players.[206] "[If] the AFL Players Association tell us that moving forward 'we're going to improve communications [...] because we've acknowledged there's some challenges with communicating with part-time girls', I trust that they'll do that".[207]
Legacy
Pearce leading her teammates onto the field before a game in 2017
Pearce is often regarded by media as the face of women's Australian rules football[2][3][4] and is highly regarded across the football industry for her professionalism, football knowledge and leadership, both on and off the field, as well as being a role model for current and future female footballers.[4]Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark wrote that Pearce had "set the standard in training and professionalism [in women's football] for years" and that her contributions "over more than a decade [made] her a living legend of the women's game",[208] while SEN broadcaster Gerard Whateley called Pearce "the defining figure of the AFLW era" and "the face of a social movement as well as a sport".[209]
Pearce leading her teammates onto the field at the end of the half-time break of the 2022 AFL Women's season 7 Grand Final
Daisy's just the complete package and by playing at Darebin with her, I see how hard she works off the field [...] I couldn't think of a better partner in crime to start that (AFL Women's journey) with.
—Melissa Hickey, Darebin and Melbourne teammate, in 2016[210]
[Pearce] has been a generational player and a generational leader. Talk about a story of breaking glass ceilings [...] she has just done it by being good in a way that has totally changed the landscape for young women.
[Pearce's] knowledge is excellent. God, she is well prepared [...] she has a presence. You can feel it. She has that lovely balance of being engaging, warm and charismatic, but at the same time she is humble and keen to listen and improve.
—Bruce McAvaney, longtime Seven Network host and commentator, in 2020[4]
Daisy the mascot (left) during a half-time break in 2022
I don't think I've ever had a better captain than Daisy at any level of football. Everyone I talk to, including friends from other teams, always comment on how amazing it must be to be captained by Daisy. Everyone respects her and she always delivers no matter what, as a person or as a captain.
In 2016, Pearce was named Football Woman of the Year for her work as the AFL's female football ambassador, an AFL talent coordinator and a graduate intern at the Melbourne Football Club.[211] In February 2017, Melbourne unveiled its new AFLW mascot, a costumed human depicting a "young female footy player", named Daisy in honour of Pearce.[212] On 7 March 2017, Pearce became the first woman to be elected as a director on the board of the AFLPA; the association had decided that day to include AFLW players as full members.[213]
In September 2018, the VFL Women's best and fairest award was named the Lambert–Pearce Medal to honour Pearce and VWFL founding committee member and former president Helen Lambert.[1] Pearce won the inaugural award in 2016 after winning six Helen Lambert Medals in the VWFL.[18] In December 2023, Melbourne named its AFL Women's best and fairest award the Daisy Pearce Trophy to honour Pearce, a three-time recipient of the award,[160] and by August 2024, the club had named its academy for its first- to third-year AFLW players the Daisy Pearce Academy.[214] In December 2024, Pearce received life membership at Melbourne for her contributions to the club.[215]
Personal life
Pearce post-match with Melbourne in 2022
Pearce studied a Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery at La Trobe University, graduating in 2010[216] and receiving a Distinguished Alumni award in 2019.[217][218] She worked as a midwife at Box Hill Hospital[219] and lived in Eltham at the time.[220] Pearce gave birth to twins with her partner, firefighter Ben O'Neill,[4] in February 2019[86] via a caesarean section.[4] Her son was diagnosed with dextrocardia while she was pregnant.[4] In October 2020, Pearce and her family relocated to Porepunkah,[4] near Bright,[221] and she divided her time between there and Melbourne,[4] before relocating with her family to Perth to commence her AFLW coaching career with West Coast in 2024.[222]
In June 2021, Pearce participated in the annual Big Freeze at the 'G event to raise funds for motor neurone disease (MND) research, sliding into the ice bath at the MCG in costume as the titular character from the Australian animated series Bluey.[223] The 2021 edition of the event raised more than $10 million for Neale Daniher's charity, Fight MND.[223] Following her 50th AFLW game in 2022, which coincided with season 7's Pride Round, Pearce decided to sell her specially-designed guernsey at auction and donate all funds to The Reach Foundation, a youth not-for-profit organisation established by former Melbourne player and president Jim Stynes.[224]
Notes
1 2 Sources differ regarding Pearce's birthplace; her profile on the former VWFL website lists her birthplace as Bright,[7] while a book by Samantha Lane states that she was born in nearby Wandiligong.[8]
↑ Pearce did not captain the club during the 2019 season, which she missed due to pregnancy.[5]
↑ The AFL's deal was to extend the 2020 season to eight home-and-away rounds, 2021 to nine and 2022 to ten, with three weeks of finals in each season.[204]
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The Darebin Women's Sports Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is a sports club based in the northern suburbs of Melbourne that is primarily notable for its Australian rules football team which competes in the highest-level Victorian state league – the VFL Women's (VFLW). It is the only VFLW club that is not affiliated with a side from the national AFL Women's (AFLW) competition or the Australian Football League (AFL).
Emily Bates is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Hawthorn Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for the Brisbane Lions from 2017 to season 7. Bates was selected by the Western Bulldogs in the inaugural national women's draft in 2013, and represented them in the first three years of the exhibition games staged prior to the creation of the league. She represented Brisbane in 2016, the last year that the games were held, and was drafted by the club with the second selection in the 2016 AFL Women's draft prior to the inaugural AFL Women's season.
Monique Conti is an Australian sportswoman who plays Australian rules football and basketball. Conti currently plays for the Richmond Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW), having previously played for the Western Bulldogs from 2018 to 2019. She also plays in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) for Geelong United.
Katie Brennan is an Australian rules footballer with and captain of the Richmond Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for and captained the Western Bulldogs from 2017 to 2019. Brennan was signed as a marquee player by the Bulldogs ahead of the inaugural AFL Women's season in 2017, and was their leading goalkicker in 2019.
Ellie Blackburn is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Western Bulldogs in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She served as Western Bulldogs co-captain in 2019, and as their sole captain from 2020 to 2023. Blackburn is the Western Bulldogs games record holder with 71 games and equal goalkicking record holder with 29 goals.
Chelsea Randall is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's competition. She is one of the club's inaugural AFLW team co-captains.
Ebony Marinoff is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She is a three-time AFL Women's premiership player, seven-time AFL Women's All-Australian and three-time Adelaide Club Champion winner. In 2017, Marinoff won the inaugural AFL Women's Rising Star award and represented The Allies in the inaugural AFL Women's State of Origin match, and in 2024, she won the AFL Women's best and fairest, AFLPA AFLW most valuable player, AFLPA AFLW best captain and AFLCA AFLW champion player of the year awards. Marinoff has served as Adelaide co-captain since 2024, and is the AFL Women's equal games record holder and Adelaide games record holder with 93 games.
Emma Michelle Kearney is an Australian rules footballer and former cricketer. A decorated midfielder in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, Kearney won the league's best and fairest award while playing for the Western Bulldogs in 2018 and has captained North Melbourne since 2019. She previously played cricket for the Melbourne Stars in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and for Victoria in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL).
Melissa Hickey is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club and the Geelong Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She served as Geelong captain in the club's first two AFL Women's seasons. She also played in the Victorian Women's Football League/VFL Women's for eleven seasons, representing the St Albans Spurs, Darebin and Geelong. In the VWFL/VFLW, Hickey won seven premierships, represented Victoria on three occasions and featured in the VFL Women's team of the year.
Elise O'Dea is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Carlton Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She served as Melbourne co-captain for the 2019 season.
Karen "Paxy" Paxman is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). A defender, 1.70 metres (5.6 ft) tall, Paxman plays primarily on the half-back line with the ability to push into the midfield. She first played football at sixteen years of age and won a premiership and league best and fairest in her first year. She played in the premier division of the Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL) from the 2008 season and won three VWFL premierships with St Albans and Darebin, in addition to a VFL Women's premiership with Darebin. Her accolades in football include three league best and fairests, state representation on four occasions, best-on-ground in a grand final, and five-time AFLW All-Australian honours.
Libby Birch is an Australian rules footballer who plays for North Melbourne in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne. She previously played netball and captained Victoria at the National Netball Championships. Birch is currently studying a Physiotherapy degree at La Trobe University. In 2016, Birch switched from netball to Australian rules football and was recruited by the Western Bulldogs as a rookie after having only played football for three months for the Darebin Falcons in the VFL Women's.
Ebony Antonio is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). Antonio represented The Allies in the inaugural AFL Women's State of Origin match in 2017, and won AFL Women's All-Australian selection and the Fremantle fairest and best award in 2018. She also won the Goal of the Year and shared the Western Derby Medal with Kiara Bowers in 2022 season 6.
Alicia Janz is a former Australian rules football and netball player who played in the AFL Women's competition and ANZ Championship.
VFL Women's (VFLW) is the major state-level women's Australian rules football league in Victoria. The league initially comprised the six premier division clubs and the top four division 1 clubs from the now-defunct Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL), and has since evolved into what is also the second primary competition for AFL Women's (AFLW) clubs in Victoria.
In the AFL Women's (AFLW), the Daisy Pearce Trophy is awarded to the best and fairest player at the Melbourne Football Club during the home-and-away season. The award has been awarded annually since the competition's inaugural season in 2017. Daisy Pearce was the inaugural winner of the award, winning in the first two seasons and three times in total; in 2023, the award was renamed in her honour.
Ashleigh Riddell is an Australian rules footballer playing for the North Melbourne Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). Riddell won an AFL Women's premiership in 2024; she is a four-time AFL Women's All-Australian and won the North Melbourne best and fairest award in season 6.
Elizabeth McNamara is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She received a nomination for the 2021 AFL Women's Rising Star award in round 7 of the 2021 season.
The 2018 VFL Women's season was the third season of the VFL Women's (VFLW). The season commenced on 5 May and concluded with the Grand Final on 23 September 2018. The competition was contested by thirteen clubs.
The 2022 AFL Women's season 7 Grand Final was an Australian football match held at the Brighton Homes Arena on 27 November 2022 to determine the premiers of the seventh season of the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition. The match was contested between the Brisbane Lions and the Melbourne Football Club. It was played in 30 °C (86 °F) heat. Melbourne emerged as winners by four points.
↑ Burgan, Matt (5 February 2017). "Daisy the new female mascot". melbournefc.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
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