Thirteen years ago, a small and bespectacled Danyle Pearce turned up for his first training session with Port Adelaide.
Few would have considered at the time, that the young rookie would be a future 250 AFL game player.
But this Sunday, that’s exactly what Pearce will become – and fittingly, he’ll play the game in his home state and against his former club.
After a tough loss for Fremantle in round one, Pearce said his priority was helping the team produce a strong performance and bring the four points back to WA.
“We’ve got a lot going on this week and we’ve got to make sure we improve,” Pearce said.
“The whole squad, myself included, are making sure we can get the win this week to get our season going.”
But when he was asked to reflect on his career, Pearce opened up on how football has changed his life.
“Footy’s been a great kick-start to most things,” Pearce said.
“It puts you ahead and in a position to take care of your family, and it’s also been a great driver into growing up.
“It teaches you a lot about life in general and to have a positive outlook. You’ve got to have that self-belief and self-confidence, and I think footy instils that in you.”
From the start, Pearce was fighting against the odds. After missing out in the 2004 National Draft, he was picked up as a rookie – and didn’t have enough money to buy contact lenses for his first week at the club.
“I’m not sure what my chances were are but I’m very proud of where I’ve come from and where I started,” Pearce said.
“To be able to stand up and say that I’ve worked to stand here at this stage of my career, it’s fantastic.
“I had shocking eyesight growing up. I was short sighted so I couldn’t see long distances and it used to affect me a lot when training at night.
“So when I was drafted, a young kid, with no money, and didn’t really have any contact lenses – I rocked up in glasses and looked every part of a little Aboriginal kid in glasses.
“Thinking back it was quite funny. I think I got drafted on a Monday or Tuesday night and on the Wednesday we were heading to Tasmania for pre-season camp.
“It was glasses on as I was canoeing around Tasmania and just trying to stop every few minutes to wipe away the fog.
“That was sort of a baptism of fire - trying to endear myself to the rest of my teammates while wearing these big thick goggles, it was a great first impression I’m sure.”
Pearce said the best memories from his 249 games played so far come from those who have joined him on the field.
“I have thought about over the last couple of weeks,” Pearce said.
“You don’t really appreciate having the privilege to play alongside some of the all-time greats in the AFL.”
“At Port I got to play alongside the Cornes boys (Kane and Chad), the Burgoyne boys (Shaun and Peter), Warren Treadrae, Gavin Wanganeen, Byron Pickett and coached by Mark Williams.
“It was a great honour to be coached by two of the great coaches in Williams and Ross Lyon - and at Freo I got to play with Pav (Matthew Pavlich) and Luke McPharlin, and I’m still playing with Aaron Sandilands and David Mundy and Fyfey (Nat Fyfe) – who’s going to be an all time great when he’s done and dusted.
“That is something that hits you when you’re thinking back.
Considering all of the highlights from his career, Pearce said a win on Sunday against his old side would be right up there with the best.
“It would be unbelievable,” Pearce said.
“A win would really set up our year, so we’re going to make sure we put in the effort and the hard work necessary to win.
“We’re going to make sure we bring that this week and play for each other and get the win and get our year off and rolling.”
