Fremantle Dockers’ captain Alex Pearce is under scrutiny following a significant incident during the team’s recent match against Port Adelaide. With under two minutes remaining in the second quarter, Pearce sent Port Adelaide’s Darcy Byrne-Jones into another solar system with a bone-jarring hit. Sadly, Byrne-Jones sustained a concussion and was subbed out of the match.
At first, Pearce seemed to be preparing for a chest mark or to do a cork-type move to try and spoil the ball. This ultimately was the reason for the collision, but at the last minute, he took his eyes off the ball. Medical personnel helped Pearce, who took a minute while laying on the field to collect himself before walking off the field. This is a trend that greatly concerns Fremantle. Pearce, who hasn’t missed a game this season, would leave a gaping hole as the defensive leader of a back line that has shown signs of immaturity.
Dockers coach Justin Longmuir’s response was equally fiery. As we noted in our coverage during the broadcast, cameras caught Evans placing both hands on his face in disbelief as the hit was occurring. The full decision on Pearce’s actions from the match review officer will be made public on Sunday. Fans and analysts alike are desperately seeking clear guidance on what the potential consequences might be.
Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson weighed in on the incident, stating, “Like I said earlier, you’ve got your eyes on the ball until you don’t.” He elaborated further on the nature of the play, noting, “For Pearce, when someone is running at you back with the flight and you want to mark the ball and you go ‘oh I can’t get this ball without knocking this guy’, you instinctively take your eyes off it and then it’s up to the lap of the gods as to what happens.”
The Dockers’ thrilling victory over Port Adelaide was played in tense circumstances, one year on from the collision. Pearce played physical, keeping himself in the flow of the game. The fallout for Byrne-Jones has opened up critical questions about how the league prioritizes player safety, educates players, and makes decisions in high-pressure situations.
