Unfiltered: Fremantle captain Alex Pearce sheds light on crippling anxiety in raw admission
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has opened up on the crippling anxiety he deals with going into every match.
With long locks and relaxed persona, Pearce presents as anything but a player who struggles mentally.
But looks can be deceiving.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The 29-year-old, who has been skipper of the Dockers since the start of 2023, is crippled by self-doubt in the days, hours and minutes before stepping out on the field.
Speaking to Channel 7’s Hamish McLachlan on Unfiltered, Pearce said a host of questions run through his mind.
“It’s pretty deep anxiety around my own performance and having high expectations,” he said.
“Am I going to play a good game? Am I going to be able to perform in a way to help my team win? And how we’re going to perform as a team.
“Did we focus too much on one thing during the week? Did we not focus on this? Did I lead well? Should I have spoken up here?
“I think it’s really important for all elite athletes to have a sense of confidence and assurity.
“I think you can only get to the top level if you are confident in your own abilities and I am deeply confident in my own abilities, but I always question myself to make sure.”
“It’s something that has served me well in my sporting career but has also crippled me at times, and I’ve worked with my psychologist about having these super high standards, I mean I’m never contempt or satisfied.”
Pearce went on to say that he often thinks about pressing an imaginary button that could immediately get him out of playing a match.
“There’s this thought that comes into my mind — if there’s a button I could press, which means I didn’t get to play this game now, would I press it? And most of the time I’m like (yes), get me out of this situation,” he said.
“Early on in my career, I was like, if I tread on that ball there and do my ankle, I might not have to play and that’s when I was like this is probably not healthy.
“I’m explaining the worst of these emotions, it’s not always this bad, but there’s always anxiety.”
Unfiltered with Hamish McLachlan featuring Freemantle Dockers captain Alex Pearce, 9.30pm straight after The Front Bar on Seven and 7plus this Wednesday
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
