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Justin Chadwick

Patience pays off as Eagles re-sign coach Daisy Pearce

Daisy Pearce will coach the West Coast Eagles in the AFLW for at least another two seasons. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

West Coast have re-signed coach Daisy Pearce for a further two seasons, tying the AFLW trailblazer to the club until the end of 2028.

Pearce has worked wonders in her nearly three seasons as coach, guiding the Eagles to their maiden AFLW finals appearance last year.

This year's 0-4 start put the Eagles on the back foot, but four wins from the past five games has kept West Coast in the finals mix with just three rounds remaining.

West Coast (4-5) will need to win their last three games - against the high-flying Cats, powerful Swans and finals aspirants Hawthorn - in order to make the top eight.

Pearce
Daisy Pearce could become the first woman to be head coach of an AFL side. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

Pearce's football brain is so highly valued, West Coast legend John Worsfold said the 38-year-old had all the traits to become the first woman to become a head coach of an AFL team.

"Absolutely. She's got all the skill set from what I've seen," Worsfold told AAP earlier this year.

"Daisy comes across as someone who will take on the big challenges in front of her, and if she saw that as a really big challenge, I'm sure she would be open to taking it on."

Pearce, the mother of twins, thanked West Coast for their patience while she weighed up her future.

“I’m really grateful for the support the club has given me and my family over the past three years, their belief in me as a coach and more recently their understanding while we worked through a big decision to continue on in WA,” Pearce said.

Eagles
After a poor start to the season, the Eagles have bounced back to be in the mix to play finals. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

"To have another two years to go to work with our players and to do anything I can to help them develop is exciting. It’s a real privilege that West Coast see me as the right person to do it. “I am glad to have this locked away and look forward to the rest of our season, three big challenges that will give us a great opportunity to keep testing ourselves against the best.”

Pearce was Melbourne's premiership captain when they won the AFLW flag in 2022, and she was also a triple best and fairest winner and three-time All-Australian during her glittering playing career.

West Coast's young squad have thrived under her leadership, and the foundations are set for the Eagles to enjoy further on-field success over the coming years.

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