CHAMPION rover Peter Bell has announced his immediate retirement from AFL football after 286 games with Fremantle and North Melbourne, to allow Fremantle’s young players a chance to show what they can do for the rest of the season.

Bell, 32, made the announcement today at a press conference at Fremantle Oval.

Bell was an original Fremantle player in 1995, before being delisted at season's end and reviving his career at North Melbourne, where he played in the premierships of 1996 and '99.

He returned to Fremantle in 2001, was made captain in 2002 and led the club until handing over to Matthew Pavlich at the end of 2006.

Bell finishes his career as a dual premiership player, North Melbourne best and fairest winner, three-time Fremantle best and fairest, and a two-time All Australian. He will be remembered as one of the best ball-winners of the modern era.

The 32-year-old will go down as one of the best players of the modern era.

Bell came to the final decision to retire at lunch with his wife on Sunday and was keen to step aside immediately in order to give other players a chance to show what they have to offer.

"It was a tough decision to come to when you love football as much as I do, and love the footy club as much as I do, but it's the right thing for the club, my family and myself," Bell said.

"Definitively I came to the decision yesterday at lunch, but I've been thinking about it for awhile. It makes no difference to me whether I play 286 games or 293 or whatever I would have ended on. I would rather some young players get the opportunity to play on the ball, wing or wherever I was going to play and it could open up a crucial eight-week period in their careers."

When he walked off the ground for the last time Bell was reasonably sure it was his last game and now he is comfortable with the decision he has made.

"By playing on this extra year I wanted to be involved in finals and it's clear that won't be the case, so it's time for the deadwood to get out to let the young guys move on," he said.

"I was reasonably sure at the time that it was my last game. I would have loved to have won it, but that's the way footy is and it can tear your heart out a lot of the time. I will always remember my last game and I will always remember that it was Mark Johnson's 200th, so that's something we will have in common."

Bell didn’t want a farewell game as he believed he would take someone's spot in the team who could make the most of the chance. He also doesn’t know what the future holds, but does know it will entail spending plenty of time with his wife and two daughters.

He is desperate for a prolonged break from football, but his finals experiences are what stands out as he looks back and he just hopes he is remembered for what he was – a competitor.

"I'd like to be remembered as a competitor and someone that gave it everything I had. I can honestly say that I've done that," he said.

"The premierships at the Kangaroos are what you play football for and they stand out, as does winning our first final with Fremantle and just the mateship and laughs you get along the way. It's a terrific environment to be part of for a long period of time and that's what you remember."

Fremantle figures led by coach Mark Harvey saluted Bell's outstanding career. Click here for more details.