Alex Pearce | |||
---|---|---|---|
Personal information | |||
Full name | Alex Pearce | ||
Nickname(s) | Moose | ||
Date of birth | 9 June 1995 | ||
Original team(s) | Ulverstone/Devonport (TSL) | ||
Draft | No. 37, 2013 National draft, Fremantle | ||
Height | 201 cm (6 ft 7 in) | ||
Weight | 99 kg (218 lb) | ||
Position(s) | Key Defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Fremantle | ||
Number | 25 | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
2014– | Fremantle | 110 (4) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 3, 2024. | |||
Career highlights | |||
| |||
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
Alex Pearce (born 9 June 1995 in Ulverstone, Tasmania) is an Australian rules footballer and the captain of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Pearce has served as Fremantle captain since 2023.
Pearce was born in Ulverstone, Tasmania to mother Karen and father Scott. [1] He is of indigenous (Palawa) descent. [2] Pearce played both junior football and cricket for the respective Ulverstone clubs. Attracting the eye of AFL talent scout Troy Davies, Pearce was selected in the Under 16 Tasmanian side that competed in Sydney in 2011. [3] He impressed at the Under 18 carnival in 2012 solidifying his AFL prospects. [3]
Drafted with the 37th selection in the 2013 AFL draft from Devonport Football Club in the Tasmanian State League, he played most of his junior football as a key forward. [4] However, after moving to Fremantle, he played mainly as a key defender for Peel Thunder in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), Fremantle's reserve team. [5]
Pearce made his AFL debut for Fremantle in Round 6 of the 2015 AFL season at Domain Stadium against Essendon, replacing the injured Luke McPharlin. [6] He was the first player to make his debut for Fremantle in 2015. He is not related to either of his former teammates who share his surname, Danyle Pearce and Clancee Pearce. Pearce suffered a broken leg late in the 2016 season and as a result missed the entire 2017 season. [7]
Ahead of the 2018 season, Pearce was elevated into Fremantle's leadership group. [8] Pearce made his return for the Dockers in Round 1 of the 2018 AFL season during Fremantle's clash against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. Pearce played 21 out of a possible 22 games in 2018, establishing himself as a key pillar in Fremantle's defensive structure. [9]
Pearce started 2019 in astonishing fashion, and was considered to be in contention for All-Australian honours. However, he broke his ankle in the win against Collingwood at the MCG in Round 11 and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the season. [10]
Pearce missed the entire 2020 AFL season after complications with his recovery from a broken ankle sustained the season prior. [11] Pearce missed almost half of the 2021 AFL season due to sustaining a knee injury in Fremantle's Round 1 game against Melbourne. He played three games in the WAFL, before returning to Fremantle's line-up in Round 13 against Gold Coast. Pearce finished the season strongly playing the last nine consecutive games. [12]
Pearce served as Fremantle's stand-in captain for a large portion of the 2022 AFL season, due to captain Nat Fyfe struggling with injury throughout the year. [13] He finished the season having played an equal career high 21 games. On February 23, 2023, Pearce was permanently appointed as Fremantle captain, succeeding Nat Fyfe. [14]
He made his debut as captain in the opening round of the 2023 AFL season against St Kilda, collecting 20 disposals. Pearce played his 100th game in round 17 during Fremantle's game against Carlton at Optus Stadium. [15] Pearce was among Fremantle's best in round 20 during their 7 point win over Geelong at Kardinia Park, collecting 18 disposals and a game-high 15 intercepts. [16] He finished the game polling a perfect 10 coaches votes. [17] Pearce finished the season having played every game.
Pearce started the 2024 AFL season in excellent form with his ability to shut down some of the league's most dangerous forwards. [18] [19] He captained the Dockers to just their third three and nil start in the clubs history.
Pearce is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) at Deakin University. In 2021, Pearce was named as Deakin University's Indigenous Sportsperson of the Year. [20]
G | Goals | K | Kicks | D | Disposals | T | Tackles |
B | Behinds | H | Handballs | M | Marks |
Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
2014 | Fremantle | 25 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
2015 | Fremantle | 25 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 73 | 65 | 138 | 50 | 20 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 5.6 | 5.0 | 10.6 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 0 |
2016 | Fremantle | 25 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 41 | 77 | 20 | 17 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 9.6 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0 |
2017 | Fremantle | 25 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
2018 | Fremantle | 25 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 109 | 118 | 227 | 72 | 36 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.2 | 5.6 | 10.8 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0 |
2019 | Fremantle | 25 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 63 | 119 | 36 | 24 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 10.8 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 0 |
2020 [lower-alpha 1] | Fremantle | 25 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
2021 | Fremantle | 25 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 40 | 96 | 27 | 10 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 5.6 | 4.0 | 9.6 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0 |
2022 | Fremantle | 25 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 154 | 76 | 230 | 90 | 25 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.3 | 3.6 | 11.0 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 1 |
2023 | Fremantle | 25 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 134 | 96 | 230 | 90 | 49 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.8 | 4.2 | 10.0 | 3.9 | 2.1 | 3 |
Career | 107 | 4 | 5 | 618 | 499 | 1117 | 385 | 181 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.8 | 4.7 | 10.4 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 4 |
Notes
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Dockers, is a professional Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's elite competition. The team was founded in 1994 to represent the port city of Fremantle, a stronghold of Australian rules football in Western Australia. The Dockers were the second team from the state to be admitted to the competition, following the West Coast Eagles in 1987. Both Fremantle and the West Coast Eagles are owned by the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC), with a board of directors operating Fremantle on the commission's behalf.
Michael Johnson is a former professional Australian rules footballer, who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League.
Fremantle Football Club's drafting and trading history is often cited as a reason for their poor on-field record; the club took eight years to reach a final, and won their first final in 2006. In recent years, however, they have been successful in finding good players with late round and rookie list selections.
Michael Walters is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Originally playing mainly as a small forward, Walters has recently spent more time in the midfield. In 2019 he was rewarded with his debut selection in the All-Australian team.
Travis Colyer is a professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club and Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Nathan Fyfe is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Fyfe is a dual Brownlow Medallist, dual Leigh Matthews Trophy recipient, three-time All-Australian and three-time Doig Medallist. He received a nomination for the 2010 AFL Rising Star award in round 9 of the 2010 season. He served as Fremantle captain from 2017 to 2022, becoming the second-longest serving captain in the club's history.
Ethan Hughes is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Harley Balic was a professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Sean Darcy is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). At 203 centimetres tall and weighing 110 kilograms (240 lb), Darcy competes in the ruck as well as the forward line.
Brennan Cox is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Luke Ryan is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A versatile player Ryan is a Doig Medalist as well as an All-Australian.
Andrew Brayshaw is a professional Australian rules footballer and the co vice-captain of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Stefan Giro is an Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles Football Club and Fremantle in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Sam Sturt is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Hayden Young is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Heath Chapman is an Australian rules football player who plays for the Fremantle Dockers in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Nathan O'Driscoll is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Brandon Walker is an Australian rules football player who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Josh Treacy is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Jye Amiss is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).