Alex Pearce leads Fremantle to grand final as hometown celebrates
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce will play his first AFL grand final on Saturday, and his hometown is celebrating with purple day events.
Alex Pearce left Ulverstone, on Tasmania's north-west coast, at 18 when Fremantle drafted him in 2013. Alex Pearce is now the Dockers' captain.
This Saturday he will play in an AFL grand final at the MCG. Back home, his father Scott, who leads Ulverstone Football Club, and his mother Karen are getting ready to watch their son reach the pinnacle of the game.
The town has organised Purple for Pearce day on Friday. Local brewery Buttons Brewing has made a purple beer.
Leven Bridge will be lit purple. Pearce's old secondary school is holding purple celebrations too.
His lifelong mate Jordan Quaile, who captained Ulverstone's local team into their grand final fortnight ago, said the town is buzzing with pride.
- November 2013, pick 37
- Drafted
- 18 years old
- Age when drafted
- Fremantle captain
- Role
- Ulverstone, Tasmania north-west coast
- Hometown
Why it mattersA hometown's rally around a local hero before a grand final shows the power of sport to bring communities together.
AustraliaAn Australian player's return to the spotlight gives his small Tasmanian town a national stage, and represents the journey from local footy to the AFL's biggest game.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 12 h ago
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