AFLW legend Daisy Pearce spearheads discussion on Women. Sport. The Future

AFLW legend Daisy Pearce has seen plenty of change for women in sport in her lifetime, but she believes there is a long way to go.

Daisy Pearce is one of the pioneers of women’s sport both on and off the field.

But even the AFLW legend admits some days the fight for balance and equality on the field can get tough.

It’s why when she comes together with like minds, like at the Women. Sport. The Future luncheon on Friday, March 1, she feels at home.

AFLW legend Daisy Pearce holding the 2023 NAB AFLW Premiership Trophy at TIO Stadium, Darwin. Picture: Darcy Jennings.

The luncheon, which will feature an exciting panel discussion with champion athlete Bianca Chatfield, Women Sport Australia president Helena Dorzczak, Western Bulldogs president Kylie Watson-Wheeler and veteran commentator Sam Lane, will be held at the Pullman Melbourne on the Park.

Pearce will act as MC of the luncheon with topics for discussion including a deep dive in the business of women’s sport and how the ‘Matilda effect’ can help turbocharge the future of sporting equality.

“I am really passionate about women’s sport, I grew up and my number one dream was to be an athlete and go to the Olympics and play professional sport,” Pearce said.

Daisy Pearce, Senior Coach of the Eagles is seen during the 2023 AFLW Draft at Marvel Stadium on December 18, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“For so long it was so hard to see a clear pathway to do that. In the time since we have made such great ground in terms of opportunities for girls and women to play the game.

“In different role it can honestly get a bit tiring trying to constantly break down the barriers and get change. When you come together with like-minded people and gear about the same work they are doing in their own sports and spaces, it is inspiring and re-energising.”

While Pearce said the hard work her contemporaries had done in the sporting space was in effort to make the journey easier for future generations, she said sometimes it was the older generations who we’re taken aback by the major strides that female athletes have made in the past decade.

Former player and Fox Netball commentator Bianca Chatfield. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

TV presenter and journalist Sam Lane. Source: Supplied

“It is has gotten sticky and snowballed in the last decade but I am mindful to not talk about the rapid speed that the growth has happened as it doesn’t respect the work of pioneers who fought before us,” Pearce said.

“It might have been slower steps forward in their generation but it was a much harder environment to make change.

“We wouldn’t have been able to turn the ship far enough to get the traction we are getting now without their work.”

But there is still plenty of work to be done according to Pearce, something she believes will be a key talking point to come out of Friday’s luncheon.

Originally published as AFLW legend Daisy Pearce spearheads discussion on Women. Sport. The Future