AFLW legend Daisy Pearce announced as West Coast AFLW coach

Daisy Pearce will continue with her TV work as an analyst on Channel 7, juggling that commitment with her new job as the coach of West Coast’s AFLW team.

New West Coast Eagles AFLW coach Daisy Pearce Picture: Supplied

Daisy Pearce says her family are “all-in” on the move to the other side of the country after being appointed West Coast’s new AFLW coach.

The retired Melbourne premiership captain, 35, will also combine her coaching duties with her TV work as an analyst at Channel 7.

Pearce’s transition from champion player to senior coach is now complete – not that she was really on the lookout for a job.

She replaces previous coach Michael Prior, who quit late in the season as the Eagles languished in the bottom rungs of the ladder.

The former Demon – who retired from playing in January after leading Melbourne to the season seven premiership – said she had not necessarily sought out a senior coaching position, having held a development role in the men’s program at Geelong this year, but backed herself to learn on the job.

Daisy Pearce has held a development coaching role at Geelong this season. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“I’ve gotten to the point where I have enough confidence in the strengths that I will bring that it’ll be enough for us to get started,” she said on Monday.

“With a bit of hard work and an open mind and a willingness to learn and a passion for doing it, we’ll get after the really important things early on and then work the rest out as we go.

“As far as exactly how we’re going to play … I think that will evolve. I’ve got a lot of ideas, but they’re not something I’m going to come in and apply to this team.

“I want to get in here and get to know this group and get a better understanding of the strengths they have, and then adjust my ideas about footy and how it should be played according to the strengths of this team.”

Pearce has a long history with Eagles women’s football boss Michelle Cowan, saying it became evident early in the pair’s conversations about the team and the role were more than simply “chewing the fat”.

New West Coast Eagles AFLW coach Daisy Pearce Picture: Supplied

Channel 7 boss Lewis Martin confirmed on Monday afternoon that Pearce – the channel’s first female special commentator – would continue in her role with the broadcaster.

Pearce missed the 2019 AFLW season after giving birth to twins Roy and Sylvie, and said the pair and partner Ben O’Neill were “all-in” on the shift west.

“Roy and Sylvie … they’re four and up for any adventure, and Ben, my partner, has always backed me in and been super supportive, which I’m grateful for,” Pearce said.

“He’s excited for the move and the opportunity it presents us as a family as well.

“As is the case in footy clubs, they’ll get me, but they’ll get my family as well. We’re looking forward to that. We haven’t nailed down exact move dates, but we’ve got work to do and I want to get over here and get stuck into it as soon as possible, so it will happen pretty quickly.”

Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett described Pearce’s appointment as a “no-brainer” for the struggling outfit.

“We think it’s a really important step forward,” he said