Scroll to the end of this article to watch the full feature chat with skipper Alex Pearce 

Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has reflected on his second season at the helm, highlighting both the disappointment of missing finals and the inspiring growth seen in the Club’s young players and emerging leaders.

In a candid conversation, Pearce acknowledged the tough end to Fremantle’s campaign but expressed optimism about the future.

“The feeling of getting close but ultimately falling short will spur the players on and ignite the fire that we want to take that next step,” Pearce said.

“It was a tough end to our season.

“We had so many great plans and there was still a lot of belief within the group that if we had made finals, we could have given things a real shake.

“I feel like we can challenge anyone that finished in the top eight. That's why the ending to our season was so disappointing."

For Pearce, the personal frustration of being out of action with a broken arm only compounded the sting of missing finals, but he found solace in witnessing teammates rise to the occasion.

“Being sidelined at the end of the season added another layer to how tough it was to watch and not be able to make an impact on the field,” Pearce said.

“However, the silver lining was seeing Caleb (Serong) and Andy (Brayshaw) step up as leaders. They did an amazing job with the way they were able to lead the group while continuing their outstanding individual form.”

“Josh Treacy stamped his authority on the competition with the way he played.

“It started from the way he came back in pre-season with his level of intensity and desire to get better, while bringing his teammates along with him.

“Jordan Clark was similar in the way he leads and influences the group.

“The way Corey Wagner played with energy, and Jye Amiss stepped up to kick 36 goals for the season – it was really pleasing to see.”

Pearce also highlighted the promising development of younger players who showed tremendous growth over the course of the year.

The 29-year-old singled out Josh Draper for his outstanding debut season, noting his impressive performances in defence despite difficult matchups.

“Josh Draper had an amazing year. To debut in round two after injuries in our backline and generally keep his spot throughout the year – it’s no easy task playing full-back, and he had some huge matchups throughout the season. His ability to improve as the year went on really stood out,” Pearce said.

Hayden Young also received high praise from the captain, both for his leadership and his growing influence on field.

“Hayden’s continued improvement as a leader is impressive, but he’s also becoming one of the most damaging players in the competition,” the captain reflected.

“His toughness in and around the footy, plus his ability to kick goals and set us up going forward is exciting.”

Another player who captured Pearce's attention was Jeremy Sharp, whose hard work and dedication since joining the Club paid off with the 23-year-old playing every game in 2024.

“I'm also excited for Jeremy Sharp. His career hadn't gone the way he wanted but he's worked so hard since he came to the Club at the end of 2023,” Pearce said with a smile.

“We knew that he was a great runner and a hard trainer, but the way he turned that into performance on game day - to come into a new Club and play every game is an incredible effort.”

While the 2024 season didn’t go as hoped, Pearce remains optimistic about Fremantle’s future, driven by the determination of both the leadership group and the next generation of Fremantle talent.

“It's really pleasing that there are so many young players who are so dedicated to our group,” Pearce concluded.

“They don’t only want to improve themselves, but they want to lift the players around them too."