Alex Pearce (Australian footballer)

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.

Early career
Pearce was born in Ulverstone, Tasmania to mother Karen and father Scott. He is of indigenous (Palawa) descent. 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. He impressed at the Under 18 carnival in 2012 solidifying his AFL prospects.

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. 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.

AFL career
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. 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.

Ahead of the 2018 season, Pearce was elevated into Fremantle's leadership group. He 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.

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.

Pearce missed the entire 2020 AFL season after complications with his recovery from a broken ankle sustained the season prior. He 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. He finished the season strongly playing the last nine consecutive games.

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. 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.

He made his debut as captain in the opening round of the 2023 AFL season against, collecting 20 disposals. Pearce played his 100th game in round 17 during Fremantle's game against at Optus Stadium. He 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. He finished the game polling a perfect 10 coaches votes. 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. He captained the Dockers to just their third three and nil start in the clubs history. He was labeled the best key defender in the competition by coach Ken Hinkley following Fremantle's narrow loss to Port during their two week stint in Adelaide. His career-best form led to media speculation he could be inline for All-Australian honors at the end of the season. The eleventh round saw Fremantle face Collingwood at Optus Stadium. The match would turn out to be a see-sawing affair with Fremantle dominating early, before succumbing to a 25 point deficit with seven minutes left in the final quarter. However, the Dockers would mount an unlikely comeback and in the final minutes of the game Pearce was switched forward in a last-gasp effort. He made an immediate impact marking 25 meters out before kicking a captain's goal to secure a draw for Fremantle.

Personal life
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.

Statistics

 * Statistics are correct to the end of 2023

! colspan=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
 * 2014 || || 25
 * 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
 * 2015 || || 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 || || 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 || || 25
 * 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
 * 2018 || || 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 || || 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 || || 25
 * 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
 * 2021 || || 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 || || 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 || || 25
 * 23 || 0 || 0 || 134 || 96 || 230 || 90 || 49 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.8 || 4.2 || 10.0 || 3.9 || 2.1 || 3
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * 2021 || || 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 || || 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 || || 25
 * 23 || 0 || 0 || 134 || 96 || 230 || 90 || 49 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.8 || 4.2 || 10.0 || 3.9 || 2.1 || 3
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * }

Notes