AFLW legend Daisy Pearce backs the importance of NT talent

AFLW legend Daisy Pearce discusses her love for Top End footy and gives her premiership tip during the AFLW’s Cup Tour in Darwin.

Daisy Pearce is joined by AFLNT Talent Manager, Shannon Millar and footballers from the Northern Territory Talent Girls Academy at TIO Stadium today to welcome the 2023 NAB AFLW Premiership Cup Tour to Darwin. Photo: Jono Laird

The game’s ultimate prize and biggest award is in safe hands as it travels across the Territory.

At the second leg of its national tour before the grand final, the AFLW cup visited TIO Stadium with a footy legend and junior talent keeping guard.

Premiership winner and former Melbourne Demons’ captain Daisy Pearce is an avid fan of NT footy and highlighted the importance of visiting regional communities, giving back and inspiring the future generation of female football stars.

“It’s huge and growing part of the grassroots part of footy up here in the NT and Darwin in particular. It’s just going from strength to strength,” Pearce said.

“To see role models from the NT having an impact on the biggest stage (is great).

“And Danielle Ponter is a great example of that.

The trophy will spend the next four days in the Top End visiting the local communities as part of the tour.

“Having the Cup come here helps make them (fans) feel connected and feel like that pathway to the big time is there which is important,” the four-time AFLPA best captain said.

“We went around this morning on a helicopter cruise over the city and might be heading on a croc tour and to NAB Auskick centres, schools and then to the Tiwi Islands.

“We know the Tiwi has produced some incredible footballers and football is such a big part of the culture over there.

“Riolis are probably the most famous but in the AFLW there’s Mattea Breed playing in Hawthorn and Janet Baird as well.

“As we see wherever we go, it really does mean a lot to the kids and the communities to have something like this tangible and touchable.

“I think for all of us when you fall in love with footy you imagine yourself and you dream about holding one of these up on the biggest stage.”

The 2023 NAB AFLW Premiership Trophy during its Cup Tour spent time at NT's TIO Stadium, Darwin. Picture: Darcy Jennings

Like many footballers, Pearce is no stranger to Territory football and has her own experience of footy in the NT, and is excited to see the talent continue to flow down to the AFLW from the NTFL.

“The game is played in such a unique and special way up here,” she said.

“I haven’t gotten to play up here myself but my dad played for St Mary’s and my niece actually plays some footy at the Buffaloes as well.

“So I’ve had little tastes and insights from them about how unique the game is here.

“To then see them (NTFLW players) coming and making such an impact at the elite level is really great.

“And I imagine for the aspirations of young footballers here as well to know that they can go and play and make an impact all around the country, I think the sky’s the limit.

The 2022 premiership captain also gave her tip as to who she thinks is in with the best chance to take out this year’s cup.

“It (the competition) got blown wide open at the weekend,” Pearce said.

“I mean, it was a really interesting round of football with both Adelaide and Melbourne being defeated, and I think it just shows how close it is in that top half of the ladder.

“But from here, I think Brisbane probably got the stronghold … they’ve won through to a home preliminary final, which puts them in a box seat.”