Inside the Mind of a Star Wars-Loving, Coffee-Brewing AFL Captain

The Good People Series – Episode 1: Alex Pearce

When you picture the captain of an AFL club, you probably don’t imagine a bloke who spends his nights reading fiction, travelling solo through Iceland with a Kindle, or negotiating a signed vinyl from Tim Minchin. But that’s exactly who Alex Pearce is.

In Episode 1 of The Good People Series, we sat down with the Fremantle Dockers captain at his South Freo home — the kind of place with more books than trophies, vinyl records stacked on shelves, and a homemade cold plunge just outside the back door. This wasn’t a media-trained interview. It was a conversation. And over coffee, we got a rare, real glimpse into the mind of someone who’s not just leading a footy team, but doing it his way.

“I probably spoke to like a handful of people for those two weeks,” Alex says, describing his solo campervan trip through New Zealand. “Just a nice way to decompress… to get that energy back from a season that takes it away from you.”

From the outside, Alex’s journey might look like a steady rise. But beneath the surface, it’s been a grind marked by long-term injuries, setbacks, and self-doubt. He speaks openly about missing nearly 40 months of football across multiple leg breaks and surgeries — and the toll it took.

“There’s always doubts that creep in… like is my body going to be able to handle playing this game? But I’ve always believed I could help this team win a premiership. That’s what kept me going.”

He’s also not afraid to talk about what helped get him through it: cold plunges, reading before bed, and music — lots of music.
“I’ve got quite a few [records]… maybe like 150 plus,” he says. “They’re not kept in prime condition or anything. They’re there to be listened to.”

Among the collection: Gang of Youths (his all-time favourite band), Amyl and the Sniffers (who he met in Iceland), and a signed vinyl from Tim Minchin.

“Me and Sunny [Walters] got a signed guernsey to Tim’s mum... and then he asked, ‘Do you want anything in return?’ I said, ‘Actually… can I have a record?’ Didn’t expect it — but he sent it with a little message.”

It’s clear this is a guy with depth. He’s not just chasing wins — he’s building a life outside the game. He reads nightly, swears by his Kindle, and proudly admits he’s a massive Star Wars nerd.

“Yeah, I’m a big Star Wars fan,” he says, pointing to a lightsaber he bought at Galaxy’s Edge in the U.S. “It’s supposed to make the sound when you swing it… but it’s had a few hits.”

The coffee, of course, is part of the ritual.

“I’m a moka pot man. No fuss. No thrills. Just a decent coffee.”

While he’s not a morning person, he kicks off most days with a beach swim before grabbing a takeaway on his way to training — strong latte preferred.

And despite all he’s already overcome, there’s no sense of slowing down. Alex is all-in on leading Fremantle through its next chapter — one he hopes ends with the club’s first ever premiership.

“I believe I can help this team win,” he says again, without blinking. “That’s always been strong enough to work through all the challenges.”

It’s rare to sit with someone so grounded, so thoughtful, and still so quietly ambitious. And that’s exactly why The Good People Series exists — to share stories like this. The ones that go deeper than headlines, and remind us that leadership comes in many forms — sometimes with a long black, a stack of vinyl, and a Star Wars lightsaber in hand.

🎥 Watch Episode 1 of The Good People Series – Alex Pearce

If you enjoyed this one, don’t forget to subscribe — Episode 2 is just around the corner.