Fremantle leader Alex Pearce has inked a three-year contract extension that will see him at the Club until at least the end of the 2025 season.
The 27-year-old has been instrumental this year as a key back taking on the opposition’s best key forwards.
He kept Essendon’s Peter Wright and Carlton’s Harry McKay goalless in rounds five and six and limited Ben Brown to just two disposals in Fremantle’s win against Melbourne.
In the return fixture against Carlton, Pearce limited McKay to two goals, as he did with Geelong’s Tom Hawkins and the Power’s Charlie Dixon – who kicked his goals in the final term after moving into the ruck.
Pearce was also acting captain during most of Nat Fyfe’s absence in the first half of the season while having continuity in his football after multiple long stints on the sidelines since he was drafted at no.37 in 2013.
“I’m proud that I’ve signed on for Fremantle for another three years, it’s very exciting news,” Pearce said.
“It’s certainly not something you want to miss, the next few years, I think we’re building something pretty special. I’ve been here for a while now and been through a few different phases and at the moment we have some good momentum behind us.
“I’m happy to be playing consistently and I’m excited for what the tail end of this season looks like.”
Pearce has had multiple long injury layoffs, primarily due to a broken leg that occurred in round nine of the 2016 season.
He endured 672 days out between 2016 and 2018, and then 658 days between 2019 and 2021, but has missed just one game this season as he gets back to playing regular football.
Pearce said these long layoffs had been character building and feels he’s mentally stronger after getting through these challenges.
“It’s definitely shaped who I am and changed me as a person,” Pearce said.
“I feel more well-rounded from what I used to be when I was younger. I enjoy a lot more of life outside of football, I’m more engrossed in my uni, music and different things that help me have a break from being focused on footy all the time.
“I think that’s a lot healthier for me and on the field, I’m very appreciative of every second I get out there. I don’t take anything for granted because I know it doesn’t take much for things to go wrong, so I just enjoy these good times while I can.”
This has also helped Pearce grow as a leader and play the stand in captain role.
“I wasn’t overawed with the responsibility of being captain. I think I was able to take it in my stride, where I might not have a few years ago,” Pearce said.
“I think part of leadership is being that support off field and helping guys to be well rounded and not have all their eggs in the football basket. I think I have some decent perspective in that point of view, along with driving standards and driving gameday performance as well.”
Despite having at least three more seasons of Fremantle football to look forward to, Pearce is solely focused on the task ahead with Fremantle sitting fourth with an 11-4 record.
“You want to play finals, you want to win a grand final, that’s always been the goal as a team and definitely personally,” Pearce said.
“It’s nice to be in the hunt at the moment, it adds a little more pressure and it makes these games even more important coming up, so we know we have to keep elevating ourselves and finding new ways to win.”
Fremantle’s Head of Player Personnel David Walls was thankful for Pearce’s loyalty after re-signing as a free agent.
“Being a key position player, and competitor and the leader he is, there was a lot of interest in Alex from other clubs,” Walls said.
“He’s just incredibly loyal to the club. We drafted him way back in 2013 from Tasmania and he was never going anywhere, but it’s great that we were able to secure him because he was highly sought after.
“It’s been a huge year for Alex. He’s done an outstanding job in leading the team in Fyfe’s absence.
“The resilience he’s shown in his time at the club has been remarkable, he’s loved by all and is performing really strongly on field.
“Alex has done a huge amount of work, especially in his rehabilitation, and our S&C and medical teams are really confident in Alex’s body and his ability to hold up and play for another five or six years at least.”
Serong So Left: 50 gamer looking at every way to improve
Darcy primed for ruck battle
The day 'Magic' game to Sonny's street of dreams
