Peter Bell Biography

Peter Bell is inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

A champion of two clubs, Bell forged his named at North Melbourne (123 games, 120 goals) before returning to his home state and captaining Fremantle (163 goals, 130 goals).

"It was a very difficult decision to come back to Western Australia. Certainly it's not lost on me the impact and the importance of being Fremantle's first player in the Hall of Fame," Bell said.

"I had a great time at Fremantle. I'd like to think in a small way that some of the players you see taking all before them now were in some way influenced in those years that I played there.

"We played finals for the first time, we won finals for the first time. But to coin a phrase used by their current coach, 'They've got to write their own story'."

Peter Bell announces his retirement from football after a decorated 286-game career with the North Melbourne and Fremantle football clubs.

"It was a pretty tough decision when you love footy as much as I do and love the footy club as I much as I do," Bell said.

"But I believe it is the right decision for the footy club moving forward, and more importantly for my family and myself.

"Having used the break to think my decision through, I decided that retirement was the best thing.

"I don't think I have got much more left to give, I have given footy a lot and I think it would be fraudulent of me to come down here and go through the motions for the sake of playing another season of footy.

"I think the club is at a time when we need to get some young guys in. It is time for the deadwood to move out."