AFLW GF: Daisy Pearce on Melbourne, AFLW future after loss to Adelaide
Daisy Pearce has opened up on where football future lies after missing out on fairytale premiership. Find out whether the Melbourne skipper has decided to play on.
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Daisy Pearce has made no decision on her playing future and maintained that any call did not depend on Saturday’s grand final result.
Speaking in a Demons rooms brimming with raw emotion as players embraced their parents and family members in the wake of the devastating loss, Pearce said her future would be mapped out in coming weeks once the dust had settled.
“It wasn’t hinging on a result or anything like that,” she said.
“It’s just time now with family to step away and kind of make a plan … as I’ve said all year, I’m still enjoying my footy and feel like I’m having an impact.
“It’s just time to let things settle and reassess and hear the final details of what next year looks like – all of that kind of thing. No updates from me.”
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The next AFL Women’s season is set to be fast-tracked to August in a bid to secure a more permanent spot on the calendar for the women’s game.
And while it’s a move that Pearce said could play to her favour with less down time and to maintain momentum and fitness with a short turnaround.
“It’s got its pros and cons, like for everyone,” she said.
“Just (need) time. First and foremost I’ll wrap my arms around this group and reflect on the season we had and try and just be in that moment for now and when the time’s right, look ahead.”
Coach Mick Stinear said he would encourage Pearce to play on given her influence on games remains as strong as ever.
The 33-year-old said she was “proud” of her team which despite a late rally fell 13 points short.
“You can’t question this team’s effort or their ability to have a crack for four quarters, so you’re proud walking away from that,” she said.
“We kept cracking in and weren’t overwhelmed by the occasion. We gave ourselves every chance, but didn’t nail the moments.
“To Adelaide’s credit, they nailed their moments and in big games like that, that’s the difference. That was the difference.”
Pearce’s three-year-old twins Roy and Sylvie brought a spark of oblivious bounce to the Demons’ rooms post-match, which Pearce said added a dose of perspective to the sombre occasion.
“Whether it’s being a mum or age, you kind of do have that perspective that you go home to a safe house with a healthy family,” she said.
“Losing a game of footy is hard, but you reload. We’re so lucky to play in this competition and have the opportunities that we do.
“While I’m as bitterly disappointed as anyone, I do keep it all in perspective.”
DEES COACH: OUR BELIEF WILL HELP US CONTEND AGAIN
Melbourne might not have brought a premiership cup back to Victoria but coach Mick Stinear says belief in what they are building is still worth plenty to his team.
The Demons were underdogs in Saturday’s AFL Women’s grand final as the powerhouse Adelaide Crows cemented their third premiership in six years and place in history as the league’s first bona fide dynasty outfit.
And while Stinear said there is plenty to improve for his team, the strong foundations are in place for the next season which looms within just a few months.
“There’s parts within that that we would have liked to have done better, and certainly in the offseason we will improve in that area,” he said.
“But generally speaking, our players we have, our game style, the program and where we invest out time, we really believe we’re on the right path and we really believe in what we’re doing.
“Not having a premiership cup to show for it obviously hurts, but belief is something that you can’t hand to someone.
“You’ve got to go and earn it yourself, and that’s something that’s become quite powerful within our group. They’ve earned that and the exciting part about a quick turnaround is there’s not long to wait to get another opportunity.”
Defender Casey Sherriff finished the day with a fractured wrist but “was doing OK”, Stinear said.
While a promised holiday to son Fitzroy in the rooms after the game is first on the agenda and was met with a high-five and a grin from a little boy who initially didn’t understand “why the Crows had won”, Stinear is optimistic that the proposed August start date for the seventh AFLW season will suit his side.
“I think that’ll benefit a lot of teams that are in good form and have strong playing lists,” he said.
“The program’s in good shape, so I’d like to think we’re in that category and the earlier start to the season we see as an advantage. The players are fit and healthy. It’ll just be about getting the balance right with time off and not getting them engaged too soon.”
But it poses a challenge to expansion sides Hawthorn, Essendon, Port Adelaide and Sydney, he believes.
“I think it’ll be quite tough for some of the new teams coming in, their lists organized and getting ready to compete with some of the best teams in the comp like Brisbane and Adelaide that have been doing it for several years now,” Stinear said.
“Long-term, it’ll be nice to have that balance and the industry can have December/January off and the players can have a genuine off-season and work around that.”
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