The Melbourne Football Club congratulates inaugural AFLW captain Daisy Pearce on her induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Pearce was added to the illustrious group on Tuesday night, named alongside Erin Phillips as the first AFLW players to be awarded one of the game’s highest honours.

A trailblazer, Pearce was Melbourne’s first-ever AFL Women’s signing, pulling on the red and blue – all of which as captain – 55 times across six seasons. She sat out the 2019 season and welcomed twins, Sylvie and Roy, before turning to the game.

With her unmatched class and composure, Pearce claimed three club best and fairest awards and three All-Australian selections (2017, 2018 and 2022, Season Six), while she was also voted by her peers as the best captain on four occasions.

Her achievements culminated in 2022, when she earned a premiership medallion and held Melbourne’s maiden AFLW premiership cup aloft, alongside senior coach Mick Stinear.

She called time on her career in the months that followed, leaving a legacy like no other.

“Daisy is one of the game’s greats, and to be among the first AFLW players inducted into the Hall of Fame is fitting recognition,” Melbourne President Brad Green said.

“She is an exceptional leader, both on and off the field, and was pivotal to not only the development and success of our AFLW program, but the competition as a whole. She is a true pioneer.

“Daisy has inspired a generation of players and is now continuing to pave the way in her current coaching role at the West Coast Eagles.

“On behalf of the entire Melbourne Football Club community, I congratulate Daisy on this special honour.”

For all she did as a Demon, Pearce’s accolades extend beyond the red and blue.

Joining the Darebin Falcons at age 16, she played just shy of 200 VWFL/VFLW games across 12 years, winning five club best and fairest awards, six Helen Lambert Medals (VWFL best and fairest) and 10 premierships.

She also won the inaugural VFLW best and fairest award in 2016, before it was renamed in her honour in 2018.

Pearce was the Demons’ first AFL Women’s signing in 2013 and played a prominent role throughout the Women’s Exhibition Series, before becoming a household name in the lead-up to the AFLW competition.

Hanging up the boots in January of 2023, Pearce went on to coach with Geelong, before being appointed the senior coach of West Coast Eagles’ AFLW side last year.

Pearce and Phillips join fellow pioneer Debbie Lee, who was the first female inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.