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AFLW champion Daisy Pearce will start as head coach at West Coast Eagles in 2024.
In a mark of Pearce’s influence, AFLW West Coast described the appointment of the 35-year-old as one of the “biggest recruiting coups” of the club’s history.
Premiership player, coach and broadcaster Daisy Pearce Credit: Getty Images
Pearce was the first player on the Demons’ AFLW list and the team’s inaugural captain. She is a three-time club best and fairest, three-time All-Australian and four-time AFLW best captain.
After announcing her retirement from the game in January, Pearce took a position as assistant coach at Geelong in the men’s competition, while continuing as a broadcaster for Channel 7.
She will replace West Coast’s former senior coach Michael Prior, who finished up in the role after a poor season in which the Eagles finished 17th on the ladder. He remains at the club as head of community and game development.
“The decision to leave Geelong was a difficult one, and I want to thank the club for everything they have done for me over the last 12 months,” Pearce said on Monday.
“I feel a great sense of responsibility for shaping the right environment and adding to the good foundations that are already here to develop this emerging list of players. I can’t wait to get started by playing a role during the remainder of the sign-and-trade period and at next week’s draft.”
West Coast boss Trevor Nisbett predicted his club’s players would be “absolutely delighted” at the news of Pearce’s appointment.
“We are obviously thrilled to have someone of Daisy’s standing joining our club,” Nisbett said.
“This is a tremendous fillip for our women’s program … she comes to us at an ideal time to assist in the growth and development of our team.”
Pearce’s commentary career kicked off in 2016, appearing as a panelist on Seven’s Game Day.
In 2021, she became the first woman to provide special comments for Seven’s coverage of the grand final. Her commentary was highly commended, and she joined the upstairs commentary box the following season.
After taking up the position under Geelong coach Chris Scott following her retirement from AFLW, Pearce moved from special comments on Friday nights to the same role on Thursday night broadcasts for 2023.
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