The AFL is pleased to announce Fremantle's Executive General Manager of Football Peter Bell has been awarded the 2022 Graeme Samuel Scholarship.
Awarded to a senior manager within the football industry who is working in the areas of business or administration, the Graeme Samuel Scholarship provides the recipient with $20,000 to be put towards a study course to further their career development.
Peter's experience in football spans more than four decades, both as a player and administrator.
For the past four years, Peter has filled the position of Executive General Manager of Football at Fremantle. Peter has played a key role in reshaping the football department including overseeing the appointment of current Senior Coach, Justin Longmuir.
AFL Executive General Manager of People Sarah Fair congratulated Peter on receiving the prestigious scholarship.
"On behalf of the AFL, I congratulate Peter on being the well-deserved recipient of the 2022 Graeme Samuel Scholarship," Ms Fair said.
"Peter has long been a highly-regarded leader in the AFL industry and his commitment to excellence has seen him create positive change within his club and broader communities."
Peter said he was honoured to receive the award in the name of Graeme Samuel and thanked those around him who have supported him during his career.
"It is a great honour to have been awarded the Graeme Samuel Scholarship for 2022. Mr Samuel has contributed so much to the AFL, Australian Rules Football and the community in general, so it means a great deal to be awarded this scholarship in his name.
"Football has been a massive influence in my life and I have met some incredible people because of it. Working at the Fremantle Dockers and within the AFL industry is an absolute privilege, and whilst everyone has been challenged in the past few years particularly, it has also been a period of great learning and growth.
"I am very appreciative of the support that everyone at Fremantle and the AFL industry has provided me, and I look forward to continuing my professional development to lead and influence more effectively as my career progresses."
Graeme Samuel
Graeme Samuel was one of the original AFL Commissioners when it was formed in 1984. He resigned from the Commission 2003 to take up the position of Chairman of the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission. Over two decades, Mr Samuel played an invaluable role in the strategic direction of the AFL competition and Australian Football more broadly.
The scholarship has been awarded by the AFL Commission since 2004 in recognition of Graeme Samuel’s contribution to the game with the recipient provided with $20,000 to be put towards a study course to further their career development.
Previous Graeme Samuel Scholarship winners are:
2021 - Sue Clark, Western Bulldogs
2019 – Cain Liddle, Carlton
2018 – Cameron McLeod, North Melbourne
2017 – Kelly Ryan, Western Bulldogs/AFL
2016 – Jennifer Watt, Melbourne
2015 – Ameet Bains, St Kilda
2015 – Rosie King, Geelong Cats
2014 – Steve Rosich, Fremantle
2013 – Andrew Travis, Gold Coast SUNS
2013 – Cam Vale, North Melbourne
2012 – Simon Garlick, Western Bulldogs
2011 – Justin Reeves, Collingwood
2009 – Rob Threlfall, Geelong Cats
2006 – Steven Trigg, Adelaide Crows
2005 – Geoff Walsh, North Melbourne
2004 – Trevor Nisbett, West Coast Eagles
Note: The Graeme Samuel Scholarship was not presented in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2020 with joint winners awarded in 2013 and 2015.
