Alex Pearce: Fremantle Dockers skipper pledges side ‘will be back’ after heartbreaking grand final loss

No player better encapsulated how Fremantle’s premiership dream turned into a grand final nightmare than their captain Alex Pearce.

As Brisbane kicked four goals in the game’s final four minutes to rip the cup from the Dockers’ grasp, their official and spiritual leader was forced to watch from the sidelines, having suffered an Achilles injury in the early stages of the third term.

Pearce was left strewn on the turf after his right leg buckled beneath him on the MCG’s wing as he pursued Brisbane’s Logan Morris.

After being carried from the field in the arms of a pair of trainers, he made his way to the back of Fremantle’s bench and was promptly ruled out for the remainder of the game.

If the worst-case diagnosis of a torn Achilles tendon is confirmed in the coming days, the 31-year-old would be staring down the possibility of missing the entirety of next season.

Having openly spoken about dreaming of being his club’s first premiership captain in the day’s before the game, Pearce was instead forced to hobble onto the dais with the aid of crutches to deliver the losing side’s address.

Holding back tears as he spoke, Pearce paid tribute to his teammates and the club’s supporters.

“To my boys, I’m so proud of every one of you. The way you fought today, the way we fought this year, the people that you are, and I know that we’ll be back,” Pearce said.

“We’ve been supported by thousands and thousands of fans throughout this season and this week in particular has been really special. We’re so grateful for all of your support.

“If there’s one thing I know about this group and this club, we won’t give up and we’ll fight and be back here again.”

After Fremantle made their way back into their change rooms at the conclusion of the presentations, Pearce became emotional as he was comforted by his family.

He also shared a long embrace with his long-time teammate Sean Darcy, who was not selected for the game.

Neil Erasmus was the first player to comfort Pearce after he came to the bench. When asked by The West Australian about his captain, the winger was overcome with feeling and lost for words.

“It was very emotional,” Erasmus said.

Fremantle were forced to shuffle their back-line in the wake of Pearce’s injury, with his fellow key defender Oscar McDonald assuming responsibility for Morris.

McDonald said the Dockers had adjusted as best they could without their leader, and said they had their “fingers crossed” his injury was not major.

“I wish we had Moose (Pearce) out there, and I’m sure he wishes he was out there, but we’re all feeling for him because it didn’t look great, what happened to him,” McDonald said.

“I thought as a as a collective back seven or eight, we adapted. Wags (Corey Wagner) came back and played a little bit more in the back line.”

Pearce opened his address by paying tribute to the Lions, who became the first side to win three consecutive premierships since Hawthorn’s all-conquering 2013-15 outfit.

“That was a hell of a game today, it was a pleasure to be a part of, but the dynasty you guys have created, it’s been an inspiration to the competition,” he said.

“You guys deserve everything you’ve got, so well done.”