AFLW player Daisy Pearce makes a play for new footballs for her home club Darebin Falcons

AFWL player Daisy Pearce says she owes a lot to her home football club Darebin Falcons so the Demons skipper has jumped at the chance to lend them a helping hand.

Daisy Pearce of the Demons is tackled by Lauren Arnell of the Blues during the 2017 AFLW Round 04 match between the Melbourne Demons and the Carlton Blues at Casey Fields on February 25. Pictures: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images

AFLW star Daisy Pearce has backed a campaign to raise money for the Darebin Falcons football club.

The Demons skipper said fans of womens’ sport should dig deep to help the club, which is seeking to raise cash for 100 new footballs.

She told Leader that joining the Falcons at 15 was a life changing moment.

RELATED: Numbers up but Darebin Falcons still need cash for new footballs

“There were so many older women who were strong role models for me,” she said.

“It hasn’t just been a great place for me to learn and play my footy, it’s been an important place for me to learn and grow as a person.”

The Preston club’s haul of footies is no longer up to code after a league rule change reduced the size of the balls to align with the AFLW.

A GoFundMe post said the club was “run on the smell of an oily rag” and appealed for help to raise $8800 for the new balls. The club is nearly halfway to its goal, with $4170 raised so far.

Pearce led the Falcons to a fourth consecutive flag in last year’s inaugural VFL Women’s competition, before taking over the reins at the Melbourne Football Club.

Her leadership of the Falcons earned her seventh VFL Women’s best and fairest award.

Pearce attributed the success of the club to its “strong and inclusive culture”.

“The club encourages you to accept people from all different walks of life and celebrate what you have in common — which is football,” she said.

Pearce said the club’s record as a training ground for AFLW talent spoke for itself.

Fellow Falcons Melissa Hickey (Melbourne), Katie Brennan (Western Bulldogs) and Darcy Vescio (Carlton) were all AFLW marquee signings.

“Getting behind this campaign is a way to support the future stars by supporting a grassroots club,” Pearce said.

Despite becoming the face of the AFLW donning the red and navy blue, Pearce said the Falcons would always feel like home to her.

“We share some of the great times and successes we’ve had as a team, but it’s also the place you go back to in the tough times. It’s like a big family, ” she said.

Donate to the Darebin Falcons at https://www.gofundme.com/help-the-falcons-buy-new-footballs