AFLW great Daisy Pearce considers historic offer to join men’s team

Star footballer and Channel 7 commentator Daisy Pearce is reportedly considering an offer that will make Australian sporting history.

Daisy Pearce runs onto the field during the field. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

High-profile AFLW star Daisy Pearce is considering an offer to become an assistant coach for the Geelong men’s team, reports Nine.

Pearce is reportedly “likely” to join Chris Scott’s reworked coaching staff after rejecting an approach from Essendon to become their inaugural AFLW coach.

A widely-respected Seven commentator and Melbourne AFLW captain, Pearce has reportedly been approached by several clubs about moving into coaching.

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She is expected to retire from playing at the end of the current women’s season, which sees her Demons as one of the leading premiership contenders.

Geelong CEO Steve Hocking confirmed on 3AW’s Sportsday the club has spoken with Pearce.

“I appreciate your interest, I think most of us would have an interest in where Daisy would like to spend her future,” Hocking said when asked by reporter Sam McClure about the story.

“The thing I can say is agree that Daisy is one of the most decorated players and an icon of football, not just women’s football but football in general.

“Daisy’s committed to Melbourne Football Club, they’re clearly going to have a big say in the finals, they’d love to win a premiership and Daisy’s still committed, our understanding at this point in time in talking to her manager.

“They’re committed to Daisy continuing there and she hasn’t made a decision as to what her future looks like at all. So I’m sure there’s many clubs along with us that would like to secure her services but Daisy’s a committed footballer at Melbourne.”

Daisy Pearce has led Melbourne’s AFLW side for years. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

If Pearce is hired, she will likely be part of an AFL initiative to employ six female coaches across the competition, in which the league will subsidise half of their salary and the other half will sit outside of the soft cap.

She would likely be able to continue her commentary role if hired by a club.

In 2014 Peta Searle became the AFL’s first full-time assistant coach when she took a role as development coach at St Kilda.

She later coached the AFLW team but stepped down after two seasons.

The AFL is keen to encourage women’s off-field participation, especially given just three women (Bec Goddard at Adelaide, Michelle Cowan at Fremantle and Searle) have coached AFLW teams, compared to 23 men in the same period.

Originally published as AFLW great Daisy Pearce considers historic offer to join men’s team