Emotional footy star reveals the heartbreaking reason why he 'cheered against' his own team and how he 'despised' AFL during a tough period
After being drafted to Fremantle as pick No 37 of the 2013 National Draft, The 29-year-old would quickly establish himself as a key pillar in the Dockers' backline.
But his brilliant start to life in the AFL came crashing down in 2016 when he suffered a horror leg break during their Round 9 defeat by Richmond.
The then-emerging young defender, who has captained the side now for three seasons, was ruled out for the remainder of the 2016 season.
Complications with the injury forced him out for longer than anticipated, with Pearce, who is now also studying a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Deakin University, suffering a setback in pre-season forced him to miss the entire 2017 campaign.
He'd return to play the following year, but would again experience injury woe in 2019, with his year being agonisingly cut short in Round 11 after he broke his ankle. He'd then miss the entire 2020 season as a result.
"I despised AFL for a large period because I was so jealous of everyone that was playing."
📺 Watch Alex Pearce on Unfiltered TONIGHT after The Front Bar on Seven and 7plus! pic.twitter.com/6UL4yQyx3V
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 30, 2025
Alex Pearce (pictured) has opened up on battling depression during his injury layoff in 2017 and 2019
The Freo star agonisingly missed several seasons of footy after he broke his leg in 2016 before breaking his ankle again in 2019
In an open interview with Hamish McLachlan on Channel 7's Unfiltered, Pearce claimed that his absence from the game changed the way that he thought about footy and his team.
Pearce admitted he struggled with depression after breaking his leg for the second time in 2017.
'I was young, I was 20. I hadn't played a lot of games,' he told Mclachlan on Unfiltered.
'Initially, I was like: "Lots of guys have broken their leg", I played with Michael Barlow at the time, great man, he's come back.
'But when I did it again I was like: "Woah, maybe this game is not for me".
Pearce became more emotional as he spoke on his injury tribulations.
'At that point, my whole life revolved around playing and being a footballer and that was my main passion.
'I had struggled with some depression. Through that period, I started to learn a bit more about myself and that I'm interested in other things.
'It was tough but because I'd learnt some lessons and I'd built some resilience, I think I was able to manage it better.'
But after breaking his leg for the second time, Pearce heartbreakingly admitted that he did not see football in the same light.
'By this stage, my relationship with football had changed, I wasn't watching football games on TV,' he said.
'I despised AFL for a large period because I was so jealous of everyone that was playing.'
The Fremantle captain was promoted to the footy club's leadership group in 2018 before succeeding Nat Fyfe as the club's captain in 2023.
Pearce, though, also opened up on how he used to 'hate' himself for one act he used to find himself doing when he watched footy on TV during his rehabilitation.
'There's this thing that happens, and I've spoken to other people about it, that when you watch your own team play you're cheering for them but you are also cheering against them because you want to be missed, you want to be needed,' he explained.
'That's the feeling I had and I hated myself for that because I wanted to be this team man who does the best for everyone.'
"You're cheering against them because you want to be missed... I hated myself for that."
Alex Pearce discusses the mental toll of injury tonight on Unfiltered 🤕
🏉Watch after The Front Bar on Seven and 7plus 👉 https://t.co/amBbe1vS4i pic.twitter.com/HEvPOoF3tT
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 30, 2025
However, Pearce's story is an inspiring one.
Despite battling with depression and the pain of not being able to play, the 29-year-old, who is affectionately nicknamed 'Moose' by his team-mates, sought out ways that he could still influence and support his team-mates, and that began in the Crossfit room.
'I just remember that was my sort of goal, in a way. I can't play and train with my teammates, but I can go so hard in the crossy (Crossfit) room, that they can notice me. I can invest in them and invest in our group,p and that's my influence,' he said, speaking on how he strove to inspire others to success.
'I've spoken about leadership before but I think it stems from just a desire to be a part of something great.
'If you want to win badly enough, then you'll do whatever it takes.
'I've probably got some traits, but we're a better chance of winning if I can influence those around me to be better.'
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