Danyle is of Indigenous Australian descent and his ancestry can be traced to the Kokatha.

Pearce attend Springbank Secondary College, then known as Pasadena High School.

He was named Best First Year Player for the Power in 2005 and nominated in round 3, 2006 for the AFL Rising Star award.

Pearce also won the Gavin Wanganeen Medal, being the first to receive the newly created 2006 award, for best up and coming rising star at the Port Adelaide Football Club, and the AFLPA's Marn Grook Award.

During the team's unsuccessful 2008 season Pearce suffered from a form slump and was dropped down to Sturt for a week, however, he showed a good display in round 22 with 28 possessions and a goal.