Fremantle have suffered a hammer blow only minutes into the second half of the grand final, with captain Alex Pearce going down with an Achilles injury.
The Dockers’ captain, who had looked somewhat proppy throughout the first half, was left strewn on the turf after slipping in a contest with Brisbane’s Logan Morris only minutes into the third term.
Pearce was carried from the field with the assistance of a pair of trainers and immediately made his way to the back of the bench, removing his right boot and sock to receive treatment.
His Achilles tendon was instantly iced in a clear sign he would be taking no further part in the match, which the Dockers confirmed only moments later.
Pearce, the club’s on-field and spiritual leader, has been one of the key figures in Fremantle’s journey to their second-ever season decider.
The key defender has produced a number of inspirational moments throughout the Dockers’ stunning 2026 campaign, including a game-saving smother against Adelaide and a remarkable back-with-the-flight mark which set up a win over Sydney.
Fremantle were in the midst of a dominant spell of play when their captain went down, and an Isaiah Dudley goal shortly after extended their advantage to a game-high 15 points.
