AFTER a few years of gentle but persistent pestering, Geelong finally landed its woman.

Newly appointed development coach Daisy Pearce officially kicked off her four-year deal at the Cats two weeks ago – two years of which are covered by the AFL women’s coaching acceleration program – and her footy acumen has already impressed those at Kardinia Park. 

Pearce, fresh off captaining Melbourne to an AFLW premiership, will be working alongside another fresh leadership face in new Geelong men’s captain Patrick Dangerfield.  

"We didn’t hire Daisy because she's a female. We hired Daisy because of her qualifications as a student of the game, as someone who has been involved in it for a really long period of time," Dangerfield told womens.afl. 

"You listen to Daisy when she commentates, and she nails it, it takes some of the commentators half a game to catch up with where the game is actually flowing, and she's picked up on that immediately. We'll look to draw on that. 

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"She's got wonderful people to learn off in Chris (Scott) and Nige (Lappin) and our coaching staff, but those two in particular. She's a sponge, she wants to be great, asks a lot of questions, and she's just a great person. 

"If you fill your club up with great people, then more often or not, good things will happen."

The pair are a dynamic duo, who at 34 (Pearce) and 32 (Dangerfield), represent the face of the next generation of football industry leaders set to guide the game over the coming decades. They’ve previously worked together as part of their AFLPA duties, and in commentary. 

"It's been great. Knowing 'Dais' for a long period of time, we were very excited to get her down in the building. We've tried for a few years, and we finally broke her on the back of a wonderful premiership," Dangerfield said. 

"She'll add a huge amount to our group, and we're thrilled to have her, she's a great addition to what was already a wonderful coaching staff. 

"She brings a wealth of knowledge on the field, off field and a real balance to what we have as well."

But have the pair had a chance to compare premiership notes after their respective triumphs in September and November?

"No, not yet. Although they celebrated a fair bit harder than what we did," Dangerfield said with a grin.

"A bit more under the radar than us, but they're mad, some of those Melbourne players. Led by their captain, Daisy Pearce."