MELBOURNE captain Daisy Pearce says she was proud, but bitterly disappointed, after her side’s heartbreaking two-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday night.

Pearce said she experienced a range of emotions, after the Bulldogs hit the front late in the game to reach the 2018 AFLW Grand Final.

“It went right down to the wire and all [coach] Mick [Stinear] asked from us was our 100 per cent best effort, and to be able to walk off with our heads held high,” she told melbournefc.com.au.

“Although a few moments in the game didn’t go our way, and the Bulldogs got the better of us, you couldn’t fault our effort to dig deep and hang in there, and find a goal into the wind in that last quarter.

“What we’ve put together, as a relatively inexperienced group across the season – you’ve got to be proud of – but there is no denying that when we don’t get to play next week, and this means it’s all over, it’s bitterly disappointing.”

Pearce said the team had “real optimism” when teammate Kate Hore kicked truly at the 15-minute mark and the Demons were in front.  

“As soon as we kicked that goal, I backed ourselves to be able to grind out those last few minutes, as we did against Brisbane,” she said.

“I thought our backline was tremendous in those dying minutes and then there was one bad stoppage, where we didn’t quite adjust to the wind. Credit to the team to just keep finding it, and trying to find an inside 50 and another goal into that breeze, but your heart just sinks.

“This whole season, the minute we got together as a team, it’s to play next weekend and give ourselves an opportunity at the cup. The reality is that we’re not going to get that, so it’s disappointing, but we just have to walk off and try and stick together – as you do in the wins and the good times – and try and use this for next year.”

Pearce said it was difficult to play in the conditions, with a strong breeze favouring the Geelong Rd – or scoreboard end – at Footscray.

“It was hard work, and you really do need to capitalise when you’re kicking with it,” she said.

“The minute you’re going against it – it was hard to run into and I felt like I was running backwards at times.

“Credit to our work rate – [Karen] Paxman didn’t even come off the ground all night, so her effort to create an opportunity and kick a goal in the second quarter was inspirational. Her running ability to get up the ground – and across the whole game … she just lived out our trademark, and did exactly what we all want from each other – but it was hard going though.”

In assessing the season, Pearce said plenty was gained from it.

“I’m proud of how much we’ve learned and grown as a group. We had quite a bit of change in terms of our list, coming into the year, and we backed in a couple of inexperienced girls to hold down key positions,” she said.

“The amount that they’ve grown and improved – I feel all of us and the coaches every week are giving us all of their time and energy to try and make us better footballers.

“When you see it, and feel it, coming out in games – it’s really rewarding. But ultimately, we wanted to play in the Grand Final, so there is disappointment there, but we’ve got to use that for next year and keep using the resources that are available to us.

“We’ve got to use this as hunger to want to get better and improve. I’m proud of what we’ve done, but we’re not there next week, so it’s disappointing ultimately.”