Melbourne captain and AFLW pioneer Daisy Pearce has announced her retirement after seven seasons and a premiership win.
Pearce, 34, was a trailblazer of the AFLW competition. She was the first player on the Demons’ AFLW list and the team’s inaugural captain. She is a three-time club best and fairest, three-time All-Australian and four-time AFLW best captain.
Premiership skipper Daisy Pearce has announced her retirement.Credit:Getty Images
An emotional Pearce made the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday morning.
“It’s been an emotional time getting to this decision,” she said, thanking her teammates, coach Mick Stinear and the members of Melbourne’s AFLW program. She said she had made the call about two weeks ago.
Pearce said she was looking forward to putting in more time with her family, and it had been special to have them be a part of her AFLW career.
She said if she had played on she would not have been able to play to her personal standards of “110 per cent” and that had factored into her decision.
“Even though it’s hard to say, it feels more right every time I say it,” she said of her retirement.
Pearce was questioned about her future after Melbourne’s premiership win earlier this year amid speculation she would call time after seven AFLW seasons.
“I’m not thinking any further ahead than right now. Don’t make me even think about it and rob me of these moments. I’m just so proud of this team,” she said at the time.
