MELBOURNE captain Daisy Pearce won’t be playing in the 2019 AFLW season, as she is expecting twins in early March next year.  

General manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said the club was delighted for Pearce and her partner Ben.

“This is very exciting news for Daisy,” he told Melbourne Media.

“It is a very special time in anyone’s life and we look forward to supporting her, along with her teammates, who have all now become new aunties. 

“One thing we have always known about Daisy is that she never does anything half-hearted, so it was no surprise to anyone that she was having twins.

“Daisy will stay involved in our program as much as she can in a mentoring/coaching role, which will be invaluable for our young players.

“Whilst this may be a first for AFLW, women’s elite sport is filled with examples of women having babies during their careers and most recently we have seen Serena Williams return to tennis after becoming a first-time mother.”

Pearce has indicated that she wants to return for the 2020 AFLW season, and the club is fully supportive of this.  

She has been brilliant in Melbourne’s first two AFLW seasons, having been named All-Australian twice and winning the club’s best and fairest on both occasions.

Pearce was also named AFLPA players’ best captain in 2017-18.