IT is never easy to replace a club legend on or off the field, especially one universally respected as Daisy Pearce. However that is exactly what new Melbourne AFLW captain Kate Hore and vice-captain Tyla Hanks will look to do in Season 8 and beyond following the retirement of one of footy’s legends.

When Melbourne coach Mick Stinear was asked to sum up her career, he, like everyone else can only scratch the surface of Pearce’s impact not just on the Melbourne Football Club, nor the AFL Women’s, but in women’s football across the country.

“(It’s a)tough one to try and sum up her career,” Stinear said. “Truly one-of-a-kind player. Her football IQ, you only have to listen to her commentary and understanding of the game in addition to watching her play, she just sees things ahead of time and ahead of everyone else.

“Her greatest strength, yes she is a fantastic and gifted player, but from a team perspective, she makes everyone else better around her. It’s a truly unique gift. That will certainly be missed, but her impact on the group certainly won’t be lost, it’s something we’ll continue to grow and leverage off.”

There were no shortage of tears from the football community upon the announcement of Pearce’s departure. Though inklings were there, it was not until she called a press conference and confirmed her retirement.

Going out with a premiership is every player’s dream, and Pearce did just that. She returned from giving birth to her twin children, Roy and Sylvie, to not only play a role, but be a key figure in the Demons’ rise to the flag.

Stinear said though the club would miss Pearce and her influence on and off the field, he was looking forward to what Hore and Hanks could offer in taking the reins of the club and building the foundations that Pearce and other inaugural Demons built.

“As much as we’ll miss having her around, her skillset on-field and her leadership and inspiration off-field, it will create an opportunity for others to now step into that space and progress their careers, and increase their influence on their peers,” Stinear said.

“You see that with the likes of Kate Hore, Tyla Hanks, taking on increased responsibilities. We’re fortunate we have some fantastic people in our program and footballers. Now it’s their time to take what they’ve learnt and take their career to the next level.”

Both Hore and Hanks were named in the 2022 AFL Women’s All-Australian Squad and finished the year as premiership players. Both are very different individuals and Stinear gave an insight into their off-field personalities, describing them both as “genuine people”.

“Tyla’s a very quiet, reserved and humble person with outstanding footy IQ, genuinely cares for her teammates,” Stinear said. “(She) would do anything for the team to see the team succeed, and that’s how often she plays.

“She selflessly problem solves and puts others ahead of herself, and doesn’t speak all the time, but when she speaks, the group listens and respects and responds and really values her contribution. For a young player to have that sort of the respect from the group and impact, we’re pretty fortunate to have her in the team.”

“Kate is the ultimate professional,” Stinear said of Hore. “Started her career just really focusing on getting her own elite habits and behaviours down pat and as she’s grown over the seven seasons, she’s continued to influence and shape others around her and increase her will to win.

“To go from self to team and club more broadly and she just continues to grow and flourish as a player and a leader and it’s all happened organically and the group really looks to her now to inspire and lead them.”

Hore and Hanks will lead a four-player leadership group, assisted by defender Libby Birch and ex-Saint Rhiannon Watt. The second season Demon is yet to play a match in the red and blue, but has already made an “enormous impact off-field” which saw her appointed into the group.

Melbourne kicks off its Season 8 campaign on September 1, with a Friday night blockbuster against Collingwood at Ikon Park.