Latest news with #DaisyPearce
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
West Coast Eagles sent SOS to AFLW star Daisy Pearce to resurrect shocking men's team
West Coast Eagles coach Andrew McQualter has revealed he will pick the brain of AFLW great Daisy Pearce in order to help the men's program rebound from the lowest ebb in the club's history. The Eagles (1-18) have won just 11 games since the start of 2022, and will collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three years. Given how dire the past four years have been, West Coast will formally ask the AFL for a priority pick. That impending request has already attracted a wave of criticism from fans and experts, given West Coast won the flag in 2018 and reached the finals as recently as 2020. McQualter has endured a tough debut year in the hot seat, and is desperate to fast-track the team's rebuild. The 39-year-old revealed on Thursday that part of his plan is to tap into the knowledge of AFLW trailblazer Pearce, who is West Coast's women's coach. Pearce led the Eagles to a 4-7 record in her first year as coach - the best return for the club in its six-season AFLW history. The 37-year-old previously served as a development coach with Geelong before landing the top role with the Eagles. 'Daisy has finished her first year, added a second pre-season, and I will really look to use Daisy as a resource as to what she learned over that period,' McQualter said. 'Just with where we're at as a team and a club - we have to get better really quickly. 'So if there's something I can learn from Daisy coming into her second season as coach, I'll look to learn it and implement it, because it's going to be a really critical period for our club over the next six to 12 months.' Pearce, who captained Melbourne to the 2022 AFLW flag during her glittering 55-game career, is eager to learn more from West Coast's men's program. 'I'm really excited to work with 'Mini' over the next few years ... so that I can develop myself, help out however I can, and just keep bringing our programs closer and closer together,' Pearce said. McQualter defended West Coast's plea for a priority pick. Pearce won an AFLW premiership with the Melbourne Demons, cementing her place in football history 'We're just looking at it from the performances of the last four years and the history of what priority picks get given for,' McQualter said. 'We think we qualify, so we've applied for it. 'We're in a rush to get better, and if it's a way that we can get better, we're willing to apply for it.' Even if they get knocked back, West Coast are still likely to have the first two picks in the national draft. Pick No.1 will be for finishing last, while if restricted free agent Oscar Allen heads to Brisbane as expected, the Eagles will almost certainly be handed pick No.2 as compensation. West Coast will be without Harley Reid (ankle) for the rest of the season, leaving them even more vulnerable for Saturday's clash with Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
ABC News
a day ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Andrew McQualter enlists West Coast's AFLW coach Daisy Pearce to help struggling men's program
West Coast Eagles coach Andrew McQualter says he will pick the brain of AFLW great Daisy Pearce to help the men's program rebound from the lowest ebb in the club's AFL history. The Eagles (1-18) have won just 11 games since the start of 2022, and will collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three years. Given how dire the past four years have been, West Coast will formally ask the AFL for a priority pick. That impending request has already attracted a wave of criticism from fans and experts, given West Coast won the flag in 2018 and reached the finals as recently as 2020. McQualter has endured a tough debut year and is desperate to fast-track the team's rebuild. The 39-year-old revealed on Thursday that part of his plan was to tap into the knowledge of AFLW trailblazer Pearce, who is the coach of West Coast's women's team. Pearce led the Eagles to a 4-7 record in her first year as coach — the best return for the club in its six-season AFLW history. The 37-year-old previously served as a development coach with Geelong before landing the top role with the Eagles. "Daisy has finished her first year, added a second pre-season, and I will really look to use Daisy as a resource as to what she learned over that period," McQualter said. "Just with where we're at as a team and a club; we have to get better really quickly. "So if there's something I can learn from Daisy coming into her second season as coach, I'll look to learn it and implement it, because it's going to be a really critical period for our club over the next six to 12 months." Pearce, who captained Melbourne to the 2022 AFLW flag during her glittering 55-game career, is eager to learn more from West Coast's men's program. "I'm really excited to work with 'Mini' over the next few years … so that I can develop myself, help out however I can, and just keep bringing our programs closer and closer together," Pearce said. McQualter defended West Coast's plea for a priority pick. "We're just looking at it from the performances of the last four years and the history of what priority picks get given for," McQualter said. "We think we qualify, so we've applied for it. "We're in a rush to get better, and if it's a way that we can get better, we're willing to apply for it." Even if they get knocked back, West Coast is still likely to have the first two picks in the national draft. Pick number one will be for finishing last, while if restricted free agent Oscar Allen heads to Brisbane as expected, the Eagles will almost certainly be handed pick number two as compensation. West Coast will be without Harley Reid (ankle) for the rest of the season, leaving the Eagles even more vulnerable for Saturday's clash with Melbourne at Docklands Stadium. AAP
Perth Now
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
AFLW legends all the rage at historic all-girls carnival
A game of footy head-to-head with AFLW legends Daisy Pearce and Kiara Bowers. For hundreds of Perth girls, this dream came true on Sunday. West Coast coach Pearce and Dockers legend Bowers were among a host of women's footballs stars that joined in on the historic All-Girls Auskick Gala in Nollamara. The event hosted around 450 players, aged between five and 12 from 40 different clubs across Perth at Des Penman Reserve in Nollamara. It was a first-hand display of the rise and rise of the women's game in Western Australia. Dockers coach Lisa Webb and the Eagles' all-time games record-holder Belinda Smith both also joined in, along with representatives from WAFLW clubs. Mt Hawthorn Junior Football Club female football coordinator Anastasia Little said it was 'an absolutely phenomenal' day. Ocean Ridge girls celebrate a win with the team song. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian And it wasn't all about football. The girls brought some party tricks to the table in front of their heroes. 'The girls just had an absolute blast,' Ms Little said. 'Seeing cartwheels and handstands and all the things that girls love to do to celebrate in their own way, was actually really, really cute.' Little said the attendance of some greats of the game, including Melbourne premiership captain and women's footy trailblazer Pearce, would inspire the young girls, who can look up to those players as role models. Pearce posed for photos and joined in on mini-games with the girls. Daisy Pearce with Willow Hood-Pebb, 6, and Charlotte Tran, 6 of Ocean Ridge. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian 'It's for these girls to see who they can be if they continue on and play footy in their footy journey and what's possible for them,' she said. WA Football's Women & Girls Community Football Manager Lisa Steane described the event as a landmark occasion for football in the state. 'This is a landmark moment for footy in WA. It's the first event of its kind in the country, and it's amazing to see so many clubs come together to celebrate the power of girls in our game,' she said. Daisy Pearce gets taken down by an Ocean Ridge player. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian 'The turnout shows just how much demand there is for girls-only footy experiences. It's not just about participation – it's about developing a genuine, long-lasting love for the game. 'That kind of connection starts with positive, inclusive, high-quality experiences like this, where girls feel supported, engaged and excited to come back each week. Hundreds of young Auskickers turned out from around Perth to play round robin games on Sunday morning. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian 'We know that when young girls see female coaches, female players, and female role models front and centre, they feel like they belong – and that's what this event is all about. 'We're seeing huge momentum in the women and girls' space, and events like this reflect how committed we are to building a pathway that starts strong at the grassroots level.'
Perth Now
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
AFLW coaches involved in first all girls Auskick gala day
It will be a historic occasion for female football in WA on Sunday with the first All Girls Auskick Gala Day. Des Penman Reserve in Nollamara will host the first event of its kind in any state in what's a milestone moment for female participation. More than 40 clubs and 430 players aged 5 to 12 from across the metropolitan area are taking part, bringing together hundreds of budding girls footballers for a fun, inclusive footy experience. All WAFL zones will have community football club representation from their district attending. Your local paper, whenever you want it. The event is a reflection of the growing demand for girls-only football options at the Auskick level and showcases the AFL's commitment to growing the women and girls' pathway, starting from grassroots. Both Fremantle and West Coast's AFLW sides will have players attending as well as head coaches Lisa Webb and Daisy Pearce, a recently announced Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee and pioneer of women's football. The event is happening from 9am to noon.
West Australian
11-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
West Coast Eagles coach and Hall of Famer Daisy Pearce on mentoring next generation of AFLW stars
The West Australian exclusive West Coast Eagles coach and Hall of Famer Daisy Pearce on mentoring next generation of AFLW stars
