Pearcing partnership: The Daisy effect has Harris blooming at the Dees

Daisy Pearce and Tayla Harris are formidable, high-profile players. Daisy has been the face of AFLW since its inception for her sheer excellence, while Tayla shot to prominence beyond the football world for the iconic photograph of “that kick”, and for speaking up against the sexism that followed it.

To me, though, they are the best teammates you could ask for, on and off the field. I have had a front-row seat as Dais has worked her magic to help Tayla be the unstoppable force we have seen on the football field since she arrived at the Demons in a highly publicised trade from Carlton at the end of last year.

Demons duo Tayla Harris and Daisy Pearce.Credit: Tess Gellie/Melbourne Football Club

It’s no surprise to me that Dais has had a huge influence on Tayla. It was Daisy who invited me, an ex-netballer who had never kicked a footy, to my first training session six years ago, gave me a pair of boots and helped me fall in love with sport again.

The ability to share the game with others is what makes Daisy the person, player and captain she is. One of the top players for score involvements this year; she can do it both on and off the field. Dais’ work is best imagined as an iceberg. On the surface we see the fierce competitive leader, however the majority of the work done humbly below the surface and away from the public eye is what makes her one of a kind.

She doesn’t accept mediocrity, she is her own harshest critic and her determination is married with a genuine curiosity about how to make her teammates better as a kind of player-coach. Enter, Tayla Harris.

On her day, Tayla is a big dangerous forward capable of taking some of the best contested marks the game has seen. She is an aerial master and an intimidating athlete. Unfortunately, before this season, the league and its fans hadn’t yet seen this Harris as consistently as they would have liked.

Because of her public profile and her big social media following, Tayla has always attracted attention, both positive and negative. There was always going to be a lot of noise around her move from Carlton.

But when I met her for the first time over coffee, it became clear to me that I had an unfair idea of who she really was. She didn’t want to be defined by “the kick” anymore. She wanted to be known for what she did on the field. Tayla has worked harder than anyone this season to be ready to play her part for the Dees.

We at the Demons had admired Tayla’s ruthlessness at the contest, physicality, and composure to handle finals-like pressure. The prospect of having a key forward of this calibre on our team was an opportunity too good to miss.

Show up and do your bit for the team, that’s what Dais stands for. It has never been about the individual. This has always struck a chord with me, and I believe it is the crux of what has helped Tayla flourish this year. Having played with Dais in the backline, her instruction and team first acts always lead the way, Tayla is experiencing this right now with Dais up forward. Second on the league goalkicker’s list and leading the contested marking, she is having one of her best seasons yet.

She’s shaped her game to play her role for the team. In a forward line and with a captain who demands accountability and selflessness, Tayla is ticking every box. On the training track she’s making others better, too. I have never been so challenged defensively. One on one she forces me to nail my timing for a spoil because there is no way you can out mark Tayla Harris.

She’s finally found an environment that understands and backs her in, and the proof was in her performance against the reigning premiers, Brisbane, last Monday night.

Having come close to a premiership over the past few years, the Demons needed a shake-up of personalities; players who can give us an edge when we need it most. Tayla is certainly one of those, along with Olivia Purcell and some of our new draftees.

It is fantastic to be part of a club that embraces the individual. This is evident in the partnership between Daisy and Tayla, which will keep growing. It must, because we haven’t seen the best of the Dees yet.

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