Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has suffered a devastating game-ending Achilles injury in the third quarter of the AFL grand final.
With Fremantle leading by nine points early in Saturday's decider at the MCG, Pearce was racing opponent Logan Morris to collect a loose ball on the wing when he dramatically fell to the ground without any contact.
The star defender suffered a right Achilles injury and lay on the field in clear discomfort.
Fremantle medical staff quickly arrived to help Pearce, who didn't put any weight through his right leg as he was assisted from the field.
The defender was done for the day immediately and sat on the bench and had his right lower leg iced.
The Dockers confirmed the dreaded Achilles injury, which will likely also sideline Pearce for a large chunk of 2027 if it is fully ruptured.
Pearce, 31, is attempting to become Fremantle's first premiership captain, but his teammates were left to face almost half the game without him.
