The Demons women are truly a part of the Melbourne Football Club

A few weeks ago we ran out of the race to take on the Bulldogs and found our men's team had spontaneously joined in with the kids in the guard of honour following their JLT Community Series game before us. I was well and truly in game mode by then and probably wouldn't have realised they were there if not for Max Gawn. He is pretty hard to miss.

Bash and crash of AFLW is part of its appeal

Society has told us girls that we should be careful, pretty and polite. Playing football gives you a platform to explore other qualities such as strength and aggression.

Being an AFLW marquee player is a double-edged sword

• COMMENT

We AFLW players expect our performances to be critiqued. But remember, in terms of professionalism and what should be expected of her, Collingwood's marquee forward Moana Hope is more Peter Hudson than Buddy Franklin.

Exhibition no more, AFLW is the new norm

• 55 mins ago

Last Saturday night, for the first time ever, I felt a sense of normalcy as I pulled on the Melbourne jumper. Not in the form of complacency, but a familiarity in my single-mindedness.

Daisy Pearce on how the Demons ignited their AFLW season

To set the scene, it's 3.16am on Sunday, I've got my foot in a bucket of ice at the kitchen table and after trying all my tricks for trying to get to sleep (eat, meditate, stretch, read book, repeat) I've decided to put the post-match buzz to good use and get some words down. These night games are a killer! 

'If I wasn't on live TV I would have cried': Daisy Pearce column

This time last week we were all poised with bated breath. Sports fans, parents of young daughters, advocates for gender equality and even those who had taken a sceptical view on women playing AFL waiting to see how the weekend would unfold.

From a Wandiligong backyard to AFLW: Daisy Pearce's journey

• EXCLUSIVE

Fairfax Media columnist Daisy Pearce makes her writing debut ahead of the opening AFLW round.