Fremantle captain Pearce avoids surgery after partial Achilles tear

Fremantle Dockers captain Alex Pearce will avoid surgery after scans confirmed a partial tear of his Achilles tendon sustained during Saturday’s AFL grand-final defeat by Brisbane. Pearce left the match in the third quarter after going down while chasing the ball. Fremantle lost the final by seven points after Brisbane overturned a 17-point deficit during the closing stages.

Football manager Joe Brierty said the scans showed that Pearce had not suffered a complete rupture. He said the captain would also miss time because of a significant calf strain but was expected to return to pre-season training. The result eased concerns about a potentially career-threatening injury for the 31-year-old.

A complete Achilles rupture would have been expected to require surgery and a lengthy period away from football, according to the report. The injury news came after a difficult week for Fremantle, which fell short of winning its first premiership. The Dockers returned to Western Australia to a small group of supporters following the defeat.

The club has confirmed that it will not hold a public event to thank fans for their support. Brierty said Fremantle’s priority was to conclude the season properly and prepare players for the next pre-season, while acknowledging that supporters would continue to celebrate the team’s campaign. Some fans told ABC Perth they were disappointed by the grand-final loss but praised the side’s season.

Former grand finalist and ABC analyst Sharrod Wellingham said a post-match gathering would have meant a great deal to supporters.