Women’s Aussie Rules trailblazer Daisy Pearce is hanging up her boots after a successful playing career with the Melbourne Demons, saying she’s moving on “with a very full heart”. The 34yo was emotional during the announcement yesterday, saying it had been weighing on her mind in the off-season but that she’d decided to retire on a high following her team’s first Premiership win last season. To explain why she’s a big deal… Back in 2016, she was the first player signed to Melbourne’s inaugural women’s team – and she was named captain. Throughout her 7 seasons, she’s been a 3-time club best and fairest, 3-time All-Australian and 4-time AFLW best captain. She’s also established herself as a well-respected commentator off-field. But she won’t be leaving the game entirely – she’s moving to an assistant coaching role with the Geelong AFL (aka men’s) team for the upcoming season. 

And while we’re talking sport… Defending champion Rafael Nadal is out of the Australian Open after losing to unseeded American Mackenzie McDonald. The Spaniard went down 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 after a hip injury flared up during the second set. The 22-time major singles champion believes pride enabled him to play through pain and finish the match, saying, “I didn’t want to leave the court with a retirement. Better like this in the end. I lost.”