Analysis: Is Alex Pearce the style of captain Fremantle needs to take Dockers to the promised land?

Is Alex Pearce still the right man to lead Fremantle to a maiden premiership? As ELIZA REILLY writes, a fork in the road has arrived in the Dockers’ history as they chase an elusive flag.

Fremantle faces a tough call on whether to keep Alex Pearce as captain.

Alex Pearce is certain that he wants to be a premiership player for Fremantle.

But when asked about becoming the Dockers’ first and only premiership captain, Pearce lacked the same firm response.

“Yeah,” the incumbent skipper said, followed by a pause.

“Premiership player, captain, it doesn’t really matter.

“We’re all really committed. After the way last season finished, there’s a hunger in all of us to go all in. We want to throw everything at it and leave no stone unturned.”

The 29-year-old has held the role for the past two seasons after taking over from Nat Fyfe in 2023. He was stand-in captain for much of 2022 as well when Fyfe played just seven games due to injury.

It was a natural transition. Fyfe led from the front and was uncompromising in his pursuit of success.

It’s hard to think of a player who hasn’t put his body on the line for the club more often than Pearce, often to his own detriment.

But when the Dockers players sit down to vote on the captaincy for 2025, they’ll have to consider who is best equipped to lead Fremantle to the promised land.

And for the first time in two years, that could be a very difficult decision.

Since 2023, Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw have been nipping at Pearce’s heels.

The star midfielders, aged 23 and 25 respectively, were appointed co-vice captains in 2023 and have been a critical connection between Fremantle’s youth and veterans.

For the first time in years, Fremantle faces a tough call on who should be its captain.

When Pearce missed eight of the last nine games in 2024 with a broken arm, the pair rotated the role, giving the playing group a first-hand look at their leadership qualities.

While Brayshaw was initially viewed as Pearce’s successor, the pendulum has since swung and many believe that Serong is the next skipper.

Like all leadership changes, it’s not a matter of if but when.

Your first thought is always your best thought. And leadership has become second nature to Pearce.

Caleb Serong is the frontrunner to be Fremantle’s next skipper.

The key defender was on track for All-Australian honours midway through 2024 before breaking his arm. Since assuming the captaincy, he’s enjoyed two of the best seasons of his career, culminating in two Doig Medal top-10 finishes.

The same can be said of 2022 when he was pseudo skipper, finishing 5th.

But his leadership hasn’t been without its critics. Kane Cornes has called on him to step aside. David King took aim at his mistakes and leadership. Fans have pondered whether his perceived laid-back nature is to blame for the Dockers’ slow starts.

In his two years in charge, Fremantle has missed finals twice. That’s not entirely his fault. But at some point, the success of a club and the strength of its leadership are intrinsically linked.

Pearce has expressed his desire to remain in the role.

“I’d like to still be captain,” he said.

“It’s been a really challenging period the last couple of years but it’s allowed me to grow.

“I’ve felt a bit more comfortable in the role and I really enjoy being around the group at the moment. I’m really close with them.

“I’m now an elder statesman but to lead and get the most out of our playing group on-field and hopefully influence them off-field as well … it’s something I’ve really enjoyed.

“We’ll see what happens.”

It’s no surprise that Pearce wants the job. But no doubt Serong and Brayshaw would to.

In Brayshaw, the Dockers have a consistent midfielder who has been billed as a future captain since arriving at the club at pick 2 in 2017.

He’s out of contract at the end of the season but it’s widely expected that he’ll pledge his future to the club long-term.

In Serong, the Dockers have a vocal and passionate leader who will do everything in his power to deliver Fremantle the ultimate success.

He’s ruthless, he drives standards and he’s currently Fremantle’s best player, winning two All-Australian selections and two Doig Medals in the past two years.

If Brayshaw is the sort of lab-grown captain combining all the best traits of bygone leaders, Serong is the same formula with a few healthy drops of mongrel.

If Fremantle is to finally deliver on its promise of becoming an AFL powerhouse, an uncompromising leader might just be the final ingredient.

Fyfe was 31 when he stood down. Pearce will turn 30 in June. He was the right captain for then.

Andrew Brayshaw is another Docker with strong leadership credentials.

Trent Cotchin was 22 when he captained Richmond for the first time in 2013. Marcus Bontempelli made history when he led the Western Bulldogs to victory as stand-in skipper aged 20 and was 24 when he assumed the role full-time. Joel Selwood holds the record as the longest-serving captain in the AFL after being appointed at 23.

Age is no barrier for the AFL’s best leaders.

And as good of a captain as Pearce has been, it might be time for Fremantle to consider whether he’s the right fit for what the Dockers have told us will be a period of sustained success.

Pearce was on hand to present a cheque worth $20,000 to the St Patrick’s Community Support Centre in Fremantle from the Players’ Community Charitable Fund.

Established in 2018 by former player David Mundy, the fund allows Fremantle players to have an impact on their local community. The funds will help the not-for-profit organisation provide community housing and specialist support services for people facing homelessness.

“The fund was set up to help the Fremantle community and leave a mark as a playing group,” Pearce said. “When we leave this club, we’ll have a legacy to be proud of. We do have a bigger role within society and the Fremantle community.”