Alex Pearce (Australian footballer)

Pearce was born in Ulverstone, Tasmania to mother Karen and father Scott.^[1] He is of indigenous (Palawa) descent^[2] and traces his lineage to Mannalargenna, a Chief of the Trawlwoolway clan.^[3] He grew up supporting Carlton.^[4]

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.^[5] He impressed at the Under 18 carnival in 2012 solidifying his AFL prospects.^[5]

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.^[6] 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.^[7]

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.^[8] 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 in Round 9 of the 2016 AFL season. He required surgery and didn't play another game that year.^[9][10] In January 2017, Pearce reinjured the same leg during a training session,^[11] causing him to miss the entire 2017 AFL season.

Ahead of the 2018 AFL season, Pearce was voted into Fremantle's leadership group.^[12] He made his return for the Dockers in Round 1 of the 2018 AFL season against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.^[13] Pearce played a career-best 21 out of a possible 22 games in 2018, establishing himself as a key member in Fremantle's defensive structure.^[14]

Pearce started 2019 in astonishing fashion, and was considered to be in contention for All-Australian honours.^[15] 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.^[16]

Pearce missed the entire 2020 AFL season after complications with his recovery from a broken ankle sustained the season prior.^[17] He missed almost half of the 2021 AFL season after injuring his knee in Round 1 against Melbourne. He played three games in the WAFL, before returning to Fremantle's line-up in Round 13 against Gold Coast. He finished the season strongly playing the last nine consecutive games.^[18]

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.^[19] He finished the season having played an equal career-high 21 games. On 23 February 2023, Pearce was permanently appointed as Fremantle captain, succeeding Nat Fyfe.^[20]

Pearce made his debut as captain in the opening round of the 2023 AFL season against St Kilda, recording 20 disposals.^[21] He played his 100th game in Round 17 against Carlton at Optus Stadium.^[22] He was arguably Fremantle's best player in Round 20 during their seven-point win over Geelong at Kardinia Park, collecting 18 disposals, a game-high 15 intercepts, six rebound 50s, and leading all players for clearances with eight.^[23] He finished the game polling a perfect ten coaches' votes and received a maximum three Brownlow votes.^[24] 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.^[25][26] He captained the Dockers to just their third three-nil start in the club's history, and was labeled the best key defender in the competition by Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley in Round 5, following Fremantle's narrow loss to Port Adelaide during their two-week stint in Adelaide.^[27] His career-best form led to media speculation he could be inline for All-Australian honors at the end of the season.^[28][29]

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, with Collingwood leading by seven points, 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.^[30] in Round 15 against the Gold Coast Suns, Pearce injured his forearm in a marking contest, causing him to miss the next three games.^[31] He returned to the Dockers line-up for their annual Starlight Purple Haze fundraiser game in Round 19 against Melbourne at Optus Stadium. Unfortunately, he reinjured the same arm during the match and missed the rest of the season.^[32]

Pearce managed 16 games for the 2025 AFL season, captaining the Dockers to a sixth-placed finish on the ladder.^[33] Pearce made a memorable impact in Round 22 against Port Adelaide. In similar circumstances to his goal against Collingwood the year prior, with scores level, Pearce switched forward in the final minute of the match; he took a big pack mark 20 metres out before kicking a captain's goal to win the game by six points.^[34][35]

In Round 4 of the 2026 AFL season against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, Pearce laid a last-minute smother on Adelaide player James Peatling's attempted kick on goal to help win the game by 2 points. After the game, Pearce was swarmed by his teammates and praised by Fox Footy commentators Ken Hinkley and Dwayne Russell.^[36][37]

He attended secondary school Ulverstone High School (now Ulverstone Secondary College). He competed his final two years of school at Don College, due to year 11 and 12 not being offered at his previous school.^[38]

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.^[39]