Melbourne has won its maiden AFLW premiership, defeating Brisbane by four points in front of 7,412 spectators at Brighton Homes Arena in Springfield.
The Lions led for the majority of the first half but surrendered the lead to a courageous Demons side who held on to triumph 2.7 (19) to 2.3 (15).
The upset win secured the club’s first premiership in its five-year history and provided a shred of consolidation for its season six grand final loss to Adelaide in April.
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Kicking the first score of the match, the victory could mark the perfect swansong for Melbourne captain and AFLW’s veteran, Daisy Pearce, who is yet to confirm whether she will play in 2023.
Speaking post-match, an elated Pearce did not want to discuss her future in the game.
“I’m not thinking any further ahead than right now,” she said.
“Don’t make me even think about it and rob me of these moments. I’m just so, so proud of this team.
“I’ve felt uncomfortable the whole time. The narrative about it being about me. I feel like it’s a glorified thing that happens outside these four walls.
“In here, all I get is the shit taken out of me. I’m the butt of everyone’s jokes, so there’s no coincidence that I keep coming back and hanging around with this group.
After Brisbane kicked the opening two goals, Pearce said there were many “great stories” hidden in her Melbourne side that she wanted to win for, including longtime coach Mick Stinear.
Since the competition’s inception in 2017, only Stinear and Brisbane mentor Craig Starcevich remain from the AFLW’s eight inaugural coaches.
”Mick Stinear is a world-class coach. He’s an amazing person and he has just built this program from the ground up,” Peace said.
“We don’t have the best facility in the comp, we’re a bit off-Broadway. We’re not the most out there, popular team and we don’t have all the bells and whistles, and we don’t give away cars to players that come to us, but we’ve got the best coach in the competition who will make you a good footballer.
“There were so many good examples out there today. Sarah Lampard’s season – she was a player that was probably a little bit on the fringe and it was already as if she was squeezing everything she could out of herself – I think she ended the season as one of the best wingers in the comp. Impenetrable down back as well.
“That’s [Mick’s work] and it takes a player like Lampy.
“I’ve never heard him say no to a player. If you’ve got the time and desire to get better, he won’t say no.
“The bloke lives in Anglesea and he’ll drive up the highway and meet you in Geelong, come and find you wherever you are in your life so that you can get a footy session in.
“He is absolutely the heart of this team. I just play for him.”
Despite taking a two-point lead into the final term, Pearce said there was never a moment where she thought her team was home. But she trusted the Dee’s moment would come.
That’s the great thing about this team – you can’t buy the belief, but with all the games we’ve played this year and the positions we’ve had to win from we’ve found a way.
“To do it today, to have to come up here to Brisbane, and wear the disappointment of [losing the home final]. It lasted about a nanosecond amongst this group. It was like, ‘We don’t care, we’re playing in a grand final and we’re going up there to win it’.
“They invited the wrong team to the housewarming.”
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