Rising Star: All Australian, club best & fairest Phoebe McWilliams has taken her game to new heights. A player who can take the game by the scruff of the neck. At 175cm Phoebe is a high flying centre half forward with long blonde hair, baby faced looks and an unbridled passion for the game.
Hard As Nails: One of the hardest players going around Karen Paxman is sure to provide great run off half back and is an excellent user of the ball. Keep your eye on her this year.
From serving aces to kicking goals (photo of Melissa and her brother, Crows player Richard)
Twenty-nine-year-old Melissa Douglas is essentially a mature age rookie. Melissa who has been playing football for her VWFL club Diamond Creek for just four years will make her debut for the Big V at the AFL Women’s National Championships in June.
Melissa attended Auskick as a child and she then spent a large part of her life playing tennis a sport that she excelled at. Melissa competed on a national level in Women’s Tennis Association events and maintains a tennis coaching business today. However, it’s her big left foot and great use of the football rather than her serve or back hand that has seen her selected for the Victorian squad.
Melissa grew up with a love of footy and was often outside having a kick with her brothers. Melissa’s brother Richard is currently playing some very good footy in the number 26 jumper for the Adelaide Crows. Richard who is sure to be on the other side of the fence supporting his sister is a big supporter of Melissa as she is of him.
Melissa is thrilled to be wearing the Big V saying: This is a dream come true for me to represent Victoria at the national championships. It’s great to be a part of the Victorian team and to play alongside some of the best players in the league.
An inspiration: (photo Vic Shannon McFerran) 2009 All Australian Captain, Debbie Lee medallist for player of the Champs and F and B in the GF. She has done it all! Shannon McFerran’s remarkable comeback season is astonishing. Back better than ever after a year out recovering from a brain tumour.
Delivering babies and kicking the footy, a remarkable career
For someone so young, Daisy Pearce has already had a football career the envy of most. Soon to turn just 23, Daisy was born to play the game. From a young age she loved Australian football and was always outside kicking the ball with her brothers. She started playing footy age 10 with the U13 team at Bright in country Victoria and she played at Bright for 5 years. After moving to Melbourne in her teens, Daisy took up volley ball and quickly showed her athletic prowess being selected to represent Victoria and the AIS Youth team.
Daisy who started playing with the Darebin Falcons in 2004 at age 15 is already a five-time premiership player and co-captained her team in 3 out of those 5 flags. Yes that’s correct, Daisy Pearce is currently just 22 years of age. It seems like she has been around forever.
Daisy started her playing career at the VWFL in fine style, winning the Best first year player award in 2004. In a stellar second year in senior footy, Daisy earned a spot in the inaugural 2005 Victorian U19 team and was named best onfield winning the Lisa Hardeman medal in the 2005 VWFL Grand Final, a wonderful individual achievement in a losing team.
Daisy is looking forward to competing in Adelaide saying: "Pulling on the Big V is an exciting opportunity to play alongside and learn from some amazing footballers and an honour to represent a state with such a rich football history."
Daisy has won the last two VWFL Helen Lambert medals after being adjudged as the Best & fairest player in the VWFL’s Premier Division. All the while Daisy has been studying and is now qualified as a midwife. In an indication of the importance of the game to Daisy recently accepted a position working at a hospital after the hospital offered her time off for training and games!
