2015-2018: Early career and injury struggles Pearce made his AFL debut for Fremantle in Round 6 of the
2015 AFL season at
Domain Stadium against
Essendon, replacing the injured
Luke McPharlin. He was the first player to
make his debut for Fremantle in 2015. He is not related to either of his former teammates who share his surname,
Danyle Pearce and
Clancee Pearce. Pearce suffered a broken leg in Round 9 of the
2016 AFL season. He required surgery and didn't play another game that year. In January 2017, Pearce reinjured the same leg during a training session, causing him to miss the entire
2017 AFL season. Ahead of the
2018 AFL season, Pearce was voted into Fremantle's leadership group. He made his return for the Dockers in Round 1 of the
2018 AFL season against
Port Adelaide at
Adelaide Oval. Pearce played a career-best 21 out of a possible 22 games in 2018, establishing himself as a key member in Fremantle's defensive structure.
2019-2023: Return and captaincy Pearce started 2019 in astonishing fashion, and was considered to be in contention for
All-Australian honours. However, he broke his ankle in the win against
Collingwood at the
MCG in Round 11 and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the season. Pearce missed the entire
2020 AFL season after complications with his recovery from a broken ankle sustained the season prior. He missed almost half of the
2021 AFL season after injuring his knee in Round 1 against Melbourne. He played three games in the
WAFL, before returning to Fremantle's line-up in Round 13 against . He finished the season strongly playing the last nine consecutive games. He finished the season having played an equal career-high 21 games. On 23 February 2023, Pearce was permanently appointed as
Fremantle captain, succeeding Nat Fyfe. Pearce made his debut as captain in the opening round of the
2023 AFL season against , recording 20 disposals. He played his 100th game in Round 17 against at
Optus Stadium. He was arguably Fremantle's best player in Round 20 during their seven-point win over
Geelong at
Kardinia Park, collecting 18 disposals, a game-high 15 intercepts, six rebound 50s, and leading all players for clearances with eight. He finished the game polling a perfect ten coaches' votes and received a maximum three
Brownlow votes. Pearce finished the season having played every game.
2024 Pearce started the
2024 AFL season in excellent form with his ability to shut down some of the league's most dangerous forwards. He captained the Dockers to just their third three-nil start in the club's history, and was labeled the best key defender in the competition by coach
Ken Hinkley in Round 5, following Fremantle's narrow loss to Port Adelaide during their two-week stint in
Adelaide. in Round 15 against the
Gold Coast Suns, Pearce injured his forearm in a marking contest, causing him to miss the next three games. He returned to the Dockers line-up for their annual Starlight Purple Haze fundraiser game in Round 19 against Melbourne at Optus Stadium. Unfortunately, he reinjured the same arm during the match and missed the rest of the season.
2025 Pearce managed 16 games for the
2025 AFL season, captaining the Dockers to a sixth-placed finish on the ladder. Pearce made a memorable impact in Round 22 against . In similar circumstances to his goal against Collingwood the year prior, with scores level, Pearce switched forward in the final minute of the match; he took a big pack mark 20 metres out before kicking a captain's goal to win the game by six points.
2026 In Round 4 of the
2026 AFL season against at
Adelaide Oval, Pearce laid a last-minute smother on Adelaide player
James Peatling's attempted kick on goal to help win the game by 2 points. After the game, Pearce was swarmed by his teammates and praised by
Fox Footy commentators
Ken Hinkley and
Dwayne Russell. ==Personal life==