Freo skipper on declining Indigenous numbers, how All-Stars game can help

WHEN Alex Pearce moved from the north coast of Tasmania to Perth at the end of 2013, Fremantle’s Indigenous leaders Michael Johnson, Danyle Pearce and Stephen Hill taught the future captain the things he didn’t know about his culture.

The Dockers have had incredible Indigenous representation – 36 players who have played 2,559 games – since the club entered the AFL in 1995. Fremantle had at least one First Nations player feature in every game between round 12 of its inaugural season until late June this year, marking 653 consecutive games across almost 30 years.

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Pearce is one of just eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in VFL/AFL history to captain a side at the highest level, along with current North Melbourne co-captain Jy Simpkin, Melbourne veteran Steven May, Chris Johnson and iconic Indigenous greats Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer, Adam Goodes, Michael Long and Gavin Wanganeen.

The 29-year-old was named among the first 11 players picked for the Indigenous All-Stars game against Fremantle at Optus Stadium next February, alongside new teammate Shai Bolton, Adelaide young gun Izak Rankine and Hawthorn star Jarman Impey on Wednesday.

Being drafted to Fremantle has helped Pearce embrace his own heritage. Now the star key defender is leading the way for the next generation of Indigenous players, not just at the Dockers, but across the competition.

I’m really proud that we celebrate our history as a club so well. It is quite easy to celebrate Fremantle’s Indigenous history because it is so strong. We had that streak running for nearly 30 years of having an Indigenous player playing every game except for when I missed last year for a little bit,” Pearce told AFL.com.au this week.

“For myself, personally, to come into a club with such great Indigenous leaders and role models like Michael Johnson and Stephen Hill, Danyle Pearce, Sonny Walters, helped me embrace my culture and be really proud of where I come from and my cultural history, which is different to a lot. Now to represent the Palawa people – Tasmania’s Indigenous people – in this game is really exciting for me. I hope those in Tassie will be really proud as well.”