Daisy Pearce is a once in a generation footballer but few would have seen her play
DAISY Pearce is a once in a generation footballer and while she is the most recognisable name in the game, the large majority of fans might never have seen her play.
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DAISY Pearce is a once in a generation footballer.
A rover, she is exquisite by foot, has great hands and she just finds the ball.
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When I’ve watched a game, even with the Melbourne coaching group and Paul Roos ... they’re just absolutely in awe.
Michelle Cowan 
Skills aside, Pearce reads the game like no other woman in Australia.
And while she is the most recognisable face in the women’s game, the large majority of those who know her name might never have seen her play.
That will change somewhat come prime-time Saturday night when the endeavours of the nation’s 44 best female footballers are broadcast around the country.
Michelle Cowan will coach the Melbourne team at Whitten Oval.
She says people are left in awe when they watch her 170cm captain play. People like Paul Roos.
“Her strength is her composure on the field and her ability to read the play,” says Cowan.
“When I’ve watched a game, even with the Melbourne coaching group and Paul Roos, the staff at Melbourne that coach the men, they’re just absolutely in awe.
“It’s freakish the way she does play, but the exciting thing is now there’s so many girls playing the game and (with) this elite pathway, there are girls knocking down the door and trying to be as good as Daisy.
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“That gap is closing ... but still she plays a game and she touches the ball 40 times.”
Pearce is helping to raise the standard of the women’s game, but that doesn’t mean she’s standing still.
With more games and greater opportunity to train, the 28-year-old is getting better, too.
“For a very long time there’s been people that have been consistently trying to work towards what she’s got,” says her coach and teammate at women’s VFL powerhouse Darebin, Jane Lange.
“I’ve played alongside her for 10 years and each year she’s a big driving force behind improvement. Girls want to be like her and want to be as good as her.
“Definitely the gap’s getting closer ... but she’s continuing to work at her own game, too.”
Pearce has made the Melbourne No.31 — Ron Barassi’s number — her own in the exhibition games that have built the momentum towards the creation of the National Women’s League.
Leaving behind a midwife career, she joined the Demons as a full-time employee this year, working in all areas of the club, before being anointed in July as one of 16 marquee players in the inaugural eight-team league.
In reality, she is first among equals.
Off-field, she is also a naturally-talented and appealing performer, as shown in regular appearances on Seven’s Game Day.
But it’s game day where Pearce shines brightest, and her leadership is on par with her sidestep.
“She’s essentially a bit Luke Hodge-like, she’s another coach out there,” Cowan says.
“She’s pointing, directing and leading, empowering those girls to play at their best.
“She’d love to see girls, I guess, knock her off that mantle of being the best in the country.
‘That’s something she really wants to see. She loves the challenge that girls are aspiring to be better than her.”
AFL WOMEN’S ALL-STARS GAME
WESTERN BULLDOGS v MELBOURNE
Whitten Oval, 7.10pm, Saturday
BULLDOGS
B: E.Kearney, N.Barr, H.Scott
HB: D.Vescio, L.Kaslar, B.Davey
C: S.Chiocci
HF: T.Randall, B.Jakkobson, E.Bates
F: K.Brennan, E.Gamble, M.Hope
Foll: E.King, E.Blackburn, R.Cranston
Inter: M.Keryk, L.Arnell, E.Humphries, K.Ashmore, M.Collier, N.Stevens, J.Lambert
DEMONS
B: C.McIntosh, E.Antonio, A.Foley
HB: N.Hilderbrand, M.Hickey, K.Donnellan
C: E.O’Dea
HF: K.Gibson, T.Harris, J.Cameron
F: B.White, C.Randall, A.Eva
Foll: E.Marinoff, P.Cula-Reid, D.Pearce
Inter: K.Paxman, B.Green, T.Thorn, H.Miller, E.Swanson, L.Pearce
GAME CHANGERS
Eliza Sewell mines the intelligence of Western Bulldogs coach Paul Groves and Melbourne women’s football boss Debbie Lee to deliver the down low on 10 stars on show tonight
MELBOURNE
7 Tayla Harris
Key forward, very agile. Great to watch. Can take a hanger and her distinctively high-kicking action has a following all its own after since a now-iconic photo was snapped at an early AFL exhibition match. Just 19 and a marquee player for Brisbane.
11 Jess Cameron
Former Australian cricketer, 27, will play for Melbourne Stars in this summer’s Women’s Big Bash League. A crafty forward who reads the play well. Also a great kick.
21 Cecilia McIntosh
Won Commonwealth Games silver in javelin and also competed at the Winter Olympics in bobsleigh. The 37-year-old defender returns after tearing her ACL on the MCG last year. Great user of the ball.
26 Chelsea Randall
Forward, 25, strong marking and gutsy, almost a bit reckless. Enjoys a run along the wing. One of Adelaide’s two marquee players.
22 Elise O’Dea
Midfield star, 24, who shares on-ball duties with Daisy Pearce at the all-conquering Darebin Falcons. Terrific skills and solid mark. Originally from the ACT.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
23 Moana Hope
You wont miss her with her ink. Gun goalkicker, aged 28, and landed her 100th goal in the women’s VFL last month. A Pie marquee next year.
1 Darcy Vescio
Forward with pace and super leap. Exciting to watch. Carlton marquee; aged 23.
3 Katie Brennan
The face of the Western Bulldogs. A 23-year-old centre-half forward and versatile into the bargain. Highly skilled, she’ll be one of the Bulldogs’ main goalkickers.
10 Kaitlyn Ashmore
Has real X-factor, super fast. She’ll take the opposition on — think run and carry and bounces. Beautiful left foot. Aged 24.
17 Steph Chiocci
Captain, 27-years-old, and Groves will release her to use her speed and strong skills.
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