Peter Bell has stepped down as Fremantle captain, using the club's best and fairest awards ceremony to announce his decision.The 30-year-old, who has captained the Dockers since 2002 and is the club's longest serving captain, will relinquish his role as skipper after 101 games in the position.It has been an unusual AFL journey for Bell. After playing two matches in Fremantle's inaugural season of 1995, Bell was dumped by the Dockers before being picked up by the Kangaroos in the 1996 pre-season draft.Bell played 123 matches in five seasons with the Roos, including two premierships, before Fremantle lured him back to WA at the end of 2000.The prolific ball-winner notched his 250th AFL game this season, and led Fremantle to a preliminary final for the first time in the club's history.Matthew Pavlich, who is widely tipped to receive the captaincy, said he was not surprised when told of Bell's decision."I think Peter, throughout the year, had forecast his intentions without being absolutely forthright," Pavlich said after winning his third Dockers best and fairest award - the Doig Medal - on Saturday night."It (his decision) did surprise a few people but he's getting to a stage of his life and his career where he needs to look at his other opportunities and they are very much at his forefront as well."Pavlich said he was yet to consider the possibility of taking over from Bell who finished equal second with Michael Johnson in the Doig Medal voting."I have not thought about whether or not I'm able to take the next step individually, or whether or not the players and the club have faith in me," he said."I've got eight weeks off now and I'm very much looking forward to that. I'm very much looking forward to thinking about next season and whether that includes the captaincy, well then I will decide that come the start of pre-season (training) or during pre-season."But at the moment I'm looking forward to getting away and having a much-needed break."Although Pavlich remained tight-lipped over the possibility of becoming the club's next captain, the compliments flowed when asked about Bell's leadership skills."He's an extremely determined individual and I think his ability to stay focused and stay the person he is has remained extremely strong over his tenure," Pavlich said."I think that's one of the major things that he's brought to the club, along with the fact that you need to have a sense of humour at the right time and be very stern with your words at the right time.""I think he's had a terrific captaincy tenure at the club. (He is) a terrific leader and someone everyone admires at the club."