Scans have revealed that Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has suffered a partial tear of his right Achilles tendon, meaning the 31-year-old will avoid surgery and could return to training during the club's upcoming pre-season.
Pearce injured his right Achilles and suffered a calf strain during the third quarter of the club's heartbreaking loss to Brisbane in the Grand Final.
The Dockers key defender fell to the ground while chasing after a Lion and remained motionless for a minute before being taken out of the game. Initial fears were that Pearce had fully ruptured his Achilles, an injury that could have kept him out of Fremantle's side for the entirety of 2027.
Fremantle GM of football Joe Brierty revealed the news in a statement from the club made on Tuesday.
“Thankfully Alex has not had a complete rupture of his Achilles tendon and he will not require surgery,” Brierty said.
“Scans have revealed a partial tear of his Achilles tendon and also a significant calf strain.
“Our performance health team will continue to consult specialist advice and assess the timeline for his rehabilitation program. As it stands, we expect Alex to return to training in pre-season.”
Pearce has battled consistent injury troubles throughout his career. He has played 162 games for the club since being taken with Pick 37 in the 2013 National Draft.
