Fremantle skipper Alex Pearce weighs in on who should captain Indigenous All Stars

Alex Pearce seems the obvious choice to lead the Indigenous All Stars into battle against Fremantle. But, he’s earmarked the captaincy for another star for the landmark clash.

Alex Pearce leads the Dockers onto the field.

Alex Pearce is one of just two Indigenous captains in the AFL.

But ahead of the Indigenous All Stars clash, the Fremantle skipper has declared that he doesn’t want to lead the side – but he has someone else in mind.

This week, Pearce was announced as part of the second wave of stars added to the squad ahead of February’s clash against the Dockers, joining teammates Michael Walters and Shai Bolton.

In 127 years of VFL/AFL football, there have been just eight Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island players to be named as a club captain. Pearce and North Melbourne co-captain Jy Simpkin are the only two current Indigenous skippers in the competition after the former was elected by his peers in 2023.

But despite his leadership credentials, Pearce has all but ruled himself out of leading the All Stars into battle against his own club, putting a much loved teammate forward for the role instead.

“No, I don’t think so,” Pearce said when asked if he had aspirations to lead the side. “If I were to pick a captain, I’d love for Sonny (Michael Walters) to get that role.

“He’d have my early vote.

“I think I can hand that over. I don’t want to captain against my own side.”

Fremantle skipper Alex Pearce says Michael Walters should lead the Indigenous All Stars.

Walters is one of the leading players named so far.

As one of the best key defenders in the AFL, Pearce will have his hands full trying to contain his own teammates and has promised that he won’t take a backward step.

“There’s certainly been a bit of banter between myself and some of the forward…Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss in particular,” Pearce said. “I definitely don’t want to let them kick too many goals on me or get the upper hand.

“I’m sure the message from the coach (Xavier Clarke) will be to play with a bit of flair. Maybe I can bring a bit of flair to the backline and take a few boys on.”

The proud Palawa man looks forward to sharing the field with the side’s star-studded forward line and not having to worry about defending some of the best goalsneaks in the AFL.

“It will be nice to play on the same team as Jamarra (Ugle-Hagan),” he said. “I’m mostly looking forward to not lining up on certain guys.

“I don’t have to worry about Charlie Cameron or Liam Ryan jumping on my shoulders.”

Pearce was just two years into his AFL career the last time an All Stars game was played back in 2015.

“I was injured the last time so I didn’t have the embarrassment of not getting picked,” he said. “It’ll be nice to get a jersey this time and it’ll be a great bit of memorabilia to hang up on the wall one day.

“For me to represent my culture and Indigenous heritage from Tasmania, I’m hoping those back home will be excited about that.”

Originally published as Fremantle skipper Alex Pearce weighs in on who should captain Indigenous All Stars