Fremantle Dockers skipper Matthew Pavlich has become a proud father for the first time.
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His wife, Lauren Pavlich, gave birth to baby girl Harper Rose at 4pm on March 5, adding to the recent wave of daughters born into AFL families.
Harper, whose name ranked 29th on WA's most popular baby names in 2012, was born at at St John of God Hospital in Subiaco and weighed in at eight pounds, seven ounces (3.8 kilograms).
It's the first child for the Pavlich pair, who have been together for ten years.
Pavlich shared the news on Twitter just after midnight on March 6, which was quickly retweeted by the Fremantle Dockers and 150 others, including Basil Zempilas, who recently announced he and wife Amy were expecting their second child.
You beauty!! It's a....girl! Both of my girls are healthy and beautiful. Mum is a bloody legend!! — Matthew Pavlich (@mattpav29) March 6, 2013
The Fremantle Dockers shared the news on their website and said both Lauren Pavlich and the new arrival were doing very well.
The club confirmed that Pavlich was "proud as punch" and would play against the Western Bulldogs in Mandurah on Saturday.
"Matthew Pavlich" began trending on Twitter as messages of congratulations and support flooded back to the AFL star from fans, teammates and friends; some joking about the spurt in arrivals of baby girls.
In November, Eagles star Daniel Kerr and his wife Natasha welcomed their second daughter, Ruby June, into the world and Aaron and Jenny Sandilands became parents for the first time to Sloane Ellie; Matt Pridis' wife, Ashleigh gave birth to daughter Mala in October.
Teammate Matt de Boer tweeted: "Congrats to @mattpav29 & @laurenpav on their new addition to the Pavli clan! @Fremantle_FC flat it's not a boy! #fathersonrule #goodgenes"
Former Dockers midfielder Paul Hasleby, father to daughter Stella, tweeted "Well done big guy on joining the girls club. Great news #babygirl" and current midfielder Michael Barlow said "Congrats Pav! Awesome news".
Channel Nine newsreader Ebbeny Faranda, who is expecting her first child this year sent her congratulations to the new dad, as did 92.9 breakfast presenter and sometime Dockers game-day host Lisa Fernandez, who said "congrats to you both and great work by supermum Lauren!!! Xx"
Eskimo Joe frontman and father-of-one Kav Temperley, who resides in the port city, also chimed in with "well done mate.. Prepare to never sleep again".
