Arthur Pearce
St Kilda · “Doc”
AFL career
27 games6 goals
- Debut
- R1 1900 v MEL5 May 1900
- Most recent
- SR3 1901 v COL24 Aug 1901
Stats
Bio
A standout schoolboy athlete recruited from Wesley College, Arthur "Doc" Pearce arrived at St Kilda as a gifted all-rounder who had captained his school in football, cricket, and rowing. Renowned for his elite endurance as a former Public Schools mile champion, Pearce used his running power to become an immediate regular in the Saints' lineup, enduring a winless debut season in 1900 before playing a pivotal role in the club's breakthrough the following year. He was named among the best afield in the opening round of 1901 against Melbourne, a match that saw St Kilda finally record their historic first VFL victory after 48 consecutive losses. Seemingly destined for a long tenure as a club leader, Pearce's career was tragically cut short when he contracted typhoid fever and died in March 1902 at just 21 years of age.
Profile
- Full name
- Arthur J. Pearce
- Born
- 01 Jan 1881
- Died
- 08 Mar 1902 (aged 21y 66d)
- Birthplace
- Bacchus Marsh, VIC
- Deathplace
- St Kilda East, VIC
- Height
- 179 cm
- Weight
- 66 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionA standout schoolboy athlete recruited from Wesley College, Arthur "Doc" Pearce arrived at St Kilda as a gifted all-rounder who had captained his school in football, cricket, and rowing. Renowned for his elite endurance as a former Public Schools mile champion, Pearce used his running power to become an immediate regular in the Saints' lineup, enduring a winless debut season in 1900 before playing a pivotal role in the club's breakthrough the following year. He was named among the best afield in the opening round of 1901 against Melbourne, a match that saw St Kilda finally record their historic first VFL victory after 48 consecutive losses. Seemingly destined for a long tenure as a club leader, Pearce's career was tragically cut short when he contracted typhoid fever and died in March 1902 at just 21 years of age.