Fremantle captain Pearce tears Achilles in grand final
Fremantle key defender Alex Pearce suffered what is believed to be a partial Achilles tear in the third quarter of the 2026 AFL grand final.
Alex Pearce, Fremantle's 31-year-old key defender, collapsed with an Achilles injury at the 15-minute mark of the third quarter. The injury is believed to be a partial tear of his Achilles, not a full rupture.
Pearce was contesting a loose ball on the wing when the injury struck. Pearce watched the rest of the match from the interchange bench as Brisbane won the premiership.
The injury is expected to sideline him for six to 12 months. In his 13 seasons with Fremantle, Pearce has already spent more than two and a half years on the sidelines with significant injuries.
His father Scott said the injury was the most disappointing part of the day, even harder than the loss itself. Pearce will have scans on Monday to confirm the extent of the damage.
Why it mattersA star player loses his best chance at a premiership and faces long-term recovery from a career-threatening injury.
AustraliaFremantle loses its captain to injury, affecting the team's future and the broader AFL competition.
Corroborated bytheadvocate.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 4 h ago
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