One of the most influential players in AFLW history, Daisy Pearce announced her retirement from the game during an emotional press conference on Wednesday.
“I’ll be making my retirement and closing the chapter on my playing career with a very full heart,” Pearce said, during her announcement.
“Not just because we ticked the premiership box in the season just gone,” the former Melbourne Demons’ player added. “But because of the career that I’ve loved and cherished.”
Daisy Pearce poses with Melbourne CEO Gary Pert, coach Mick Stinear and her family and teammates after announcing her retirement on January 18, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos
Leading up to the Demons’ face-off with the Brisbane Lions for the AFLW grand final a couple of months ago, many fans and media had wondered how the outcome would affect Pearce’s decision to retire.
While the Melbourne club’s exhilarating victory in the AFLW premiership certainly gave her a feeling of contentment in her career, Pearce says the love she holds for her teammates and supporters had a big impact over her decision as well.
“I’ll miss the whole program– the players, the staff and people I’ve gotten to share the journey with immensely. And that’s probably been the hardest thing in making the decision,” said Pearce.
“The satisfaction of last season and the closeness of the bonds we’ve now formed actually made it a bit more confusing and harder to step away.”
“But It feels like the right decision and comes down to a feeling of contentment inside of me.”
The 34-year-old legend has been playing at the highest level of women’s footy for the last 18 years and, before launching her AFLW career, played for 12 years in nearly 200 games with the Darebin Falcons– a women-only club– where she won 10 premierships
Then in 2017, for the AFLW’s inaugural season, Pearce was drafted as the Melbourne Demons’ first player. She went on to play a total of 55 games with the team and captained the Demons for six seasons.
During that time, the AFLW trailblazer won three club champion awards, three All-Australian selections and was voted by her peers as the AFLW’s best captain on four occasions.
Her commitment and dedication to the sport both on and off the field have helped grow the league and make women’s and girls’ football much more popular.
Having coached Pearce throughout her AFLW career with the Demons, Mick Steiner said the club could not have asked for a better role model than her.
“Daisy has been the greatest influence on our women’s program, creating, driving and inspiring our culture and on-field success,” he said.
Melbourne CEO, Gary Pert also said that Pearce would leave “an everlasting impact on our club” and said the premiership win last year capped off “a remarkable journey and career” for her.
For the 2019 season, Pearce took time off to give birth to twins and said on Wednesday that she’s excited for what’s next for herself and her family.
While no longer a player, Pearce will stay involved with football in other ways as she’s taken a coaching role with Geelong as part of the AFLW’s coach acceleration program. She’s also established herself as a leading television commentator.