Good Humans | Alex Pearce
We believe that style is about more than what we wear - it's how we move, create and connect. It's the choices we make, the energy we bring and the stories we carry with us. Good Humans is a journal series exploring the intersection of self-expression, purpose and the quiet power of living with intention.
There's a certain expectation that comes with leadership in professional sport - strength, certainty, composure under pressure. But rarely do we stop to consider what sits underneath that. What it takes to become someone others look to. What it asks of you, privately.
Alex Pearce, captain of the Fremantle Dockers in the AFL, has spent much of his adult life in that position - leading, performing, and being publicly assessed in a system that hasn't always made space for individuality or vulnerability. But in conversation, what comes through isn't just resilience - it's reflection. A willingness to question, to evolve, and to build a life beyond the game.
This is a conversation about leadership - not as a title, but as a practice. About pressure, identity, and the foundations that hold when everything else is being measured.
When you look back to the younger version of yourself - what did he have that got him here? Was it talent, discipline, resilience, stubbornness, belief...something else entirely? From as far back as I can remember, sport was the most important thing in my life and what I got so much joy from. In school, I was the kid that treated period 6 PE like the Olympics and struggled to get a part-time job due to cricket or football commitments all week. I wasn't solely driven to become a professional. I just loved competing and spending time with mates playing, training and watching sport. So I think it's a love of sport, a love of training, a love of competing that helped give me the skills and forge the mindset that has enabled me to end up where I am.
AFL has traditionally been seen as a very masculine, tough-first environment. From your perspective, how has that culture evolved over time? And today, is there more space for players to express themselves - whether that's through fashion, personal style, or interests beyond footy? Even in my 12-year career I've seen a positive shift in our industries ability to celebrate vulnerability and individualism as opposed to expecting players to fit within a mould of what we would historically associate masculinity. There are still improvements to be made to ensure that the environment not just at the highest level, but at all levels of football throughout the country are safe for culturally, sexually and gender diverse communities. In recent years encouraging athletes to share more of their personality and express themselves through off-field interests, including fashion and style plays a part in this greater acceptance.
Every elite career has moments where it could have gone another way. Was there a turning point - an injury, a conversation, a season - that shaped you more than people realise? I've had two separate periods of my career where I had to wait 20 months in between games due to injury. The first of these was a few weeks before my 21st birthday where I suffered a broken leg which was followed up with a re-fracture 9 months later. Before the injury, I was a little naive and allowed my life to be consumed by close to 100% football. After the period on the sidelines, my relationship to the sport changed and I tried to find greater balance in my life where my career was still a major part of the make-up but my studies and interests in music, politics, travel, and my friends and family were all important in that balance. I still wouldn't say I've got things figured out but I know that a life that has variety and new experiences is important to me.
Captaincy isn't just a title - it's a trust. What do you think your teammates see in you that made them believe you were the right person to lead? I hope they see someone that genuinely cares for them. Wants them to be the best athlete they can be but also wants them to be the best person they can be and supports and challenges them to be that best version. I want them to see someone who gives all of himself to the team and to be the best version of myself possible. Leadership during the match when everyone is watching is only a small snippet of what's required and I think the best leaders are consistent in the way they show up every day, on and off the field.
Leadership often looks steady from the outside. Privately, what does it actually require of you? Is there a weight to being the ones others lean on? I've found it requires you to be really adaptable. I thought I had an idea of what it may take to be a leader, and be captain, but along the way I've been presented with unexpected challenges that have asked different questions and required different solutions.
There is certainly a weight. A weight of expectation, of pressure, of uncertainty of what is coming next. A skill I think I've developed is the ability to identify the weight, to label it and not let it drag me down. The weight is a privilege and something that comes with doing something you find meaningful and has importance to other people.
You've lived a large part of your adult life publicly assessed. How do you protect your sense of self when performance becomes public conversation? I am very conscious of what I allow myself to see in the media. I know that my team, and often my own performance will be heavily scrutinised, and I also know that as much as I tell myself others opinions don't matter, if I see criticism, it often can affect how I'm feeling. Because of this I consume very little footy media, I trust my coaching staff and teammates to provide me with the feedback I need.
In the harder seasons - injuries, scrutiny, doubt - what did you learn about your own character? Did anything about your identity shift in those periods? I've learned that I genuinely care about my career. I wouldn't have been able to put in the hours of work if it didn't mean something to me and it didn't provide a sense of fulfilment. During challenging periods my default has been to find ways through it myself without asking for help. I've become better at finding the courage to reach out to those around me and share these challenges with those I trust.
Has the public version of you ever felt different from the private one? And if so, how do you reconcile the two? Hmm, there are still times in public when Alex Pearce the footballer can be overwhelming but for the most part, I try to surround myself with people that know Alex Pearce the person. Maintaining relationships with friends and family from before football is really important to help with my sense of self.
Who or what shaped you early on? Was there a person, a setback, or an experience that quietly built your foundation? My parents were both big influences on me and extremely present in my childhood and all of my sporting endeavours. I'm incredibly grateful when I reflect of the hours my Mum and Dad put in supporting me and the teams I played in. I think understanding this has helped me maintain some humility and appreciation throughout my career and to all of the people that have impacted it.
What qualities do you value most in yourself now - that maybe you didn't recognise when you were younger? Openness to experience is something I try to lean into to ensure I'm not getting stuck in the routine of the footy season and maintain a life that gives me joy. The footy world can at times be all consuming so taking opportunities to step outside my comfort zone is something I enjoy. Say for instance, speaking to a fashion label and getting my picture taken through the streets of Freo....
We've heard music is important to you. What role does it play in your life? Is it preparation, escape, reflection - or something deeper? And has your taste evolved as you have? All of the above. I find music can help regulate my mood and clear my head during stressful periods. I get a lot of joy discovering new artists or listening to a favourite band's new song. Attending live gigs is probably my favourite thing to do in the world and my off-season is often spent in some way by exploring foreign countries and finding live music.
As captain, do you think about how you present yourself off the field? Does style - even in subtle ways - play a role in leadership? It's pretty uncomplicated my "style" I would say, but within the high feedback environment of a football club dressing room, I don't mind receiving critics from teammates for doing things a bit differently. To connect that to leadership I'd say that being willing to be and dress my way gives permission to others to do the same in their way?
Has your personal style evolved alongside your confidence and maturity? Or has simplicity always been your anchor? Simplicity will always be an anchor for me, but as I've matured, I've felt more comfortable in exploring new styles and finding what makes me feel most me. I don't see that ever being too flashy and will often involve some corduroy and a band tee.
When football eventually becomes something you did rather than something you are - who do you hope remains? Someone who remains curious and living a life that is fulfilling, challenging and never boring.
Alex wears the Ari Overshirt and William Jean in Light Stone, the Brooklyn Jacket in Black, the Atlas Tee in White and the Frankie Pant in Black.
Photos by Jarrad Seng.