Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick has declared he has never seen Alex Pearce more invested in the team, as speculation grows that the Dockers captain could be targeted by the incoming Tasmanian team as their inaugural skipper.
Pearce is contracted until the end of 2027 and will be 32 by the time the Devils play their first game, but has long been linked with a return to his home state. He grew up in Ulverstone on the north coast of Tasmania.
“He is very enthusiastic to do everything he possibly can to make sure he can help us win. That’s his focus,” Garlick told ABC Radio ahead of Saturday night’s 14-point win over Carlton at Optus Stadium.
“I think that’s his driving motivator. Understand that he has another 18 months left on his contract and it’s not something that he’s even thinking or considering.
“At this point in time … he is doing what he can to inspire his teammates to play and win. It’s not even in our thinking at the moment.
“He comes from an amazing family. His parents Scott and Karen are beautiful people. They are proud Tasmanians and he is leading incredibly well.
“The link is only natural and we completely understand and respect it.
“I’m coming up to seven years at the club and have never seen him as focused and driven.”
Former St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt told Channel 7’s Agenda Setters that Pearce should be a target for Tasmanian recruiters. “He would be the first choice. He would be pick one as captain,” Riewoldt said.
Fellow Tasmanian Matthew Richardson also recently said on Channel 7 that Tasmania should prioritise building their inaugural team around a leader such as Pearce.
Garlick described Pearce as “incredibly important” to the Dockers. “He is quietly spoken. He is not your ra-ra, bang the table, necessarily looking to inspire by motivational address, although he’s not shy in coming forward, standing up and talking to the group when he needs to,” Garlick said.
“It’s so much by action, how he carries himself. He is very considered and thinks deeply about things.
“He’ll pop into my office and have deep conversations about whatever is on his mind … whether it’s related to footy or not.”
Pearce has had a memorable start to the season, highlighted by a match-saving smother in the dying seconds of their round three win over the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
Fellow defender Brennan Cox said after that smother: “He is our captain for a reason. He leads by example and through his communication and his connection with the group. In our vote he won our captaincy by quite a bit. You saw why tonight. You saw what he can do.”
It wasn’t the first time Pearce had decided a game at Adelaide Oval. He shifted forward to kick a match-winning set-shot goal in round 22, 2024 to help lift his side over Port Adelaide.
Pearce has been captain since taking over the reins from Nat Fyfe at the start of the 2023 season.
