Harry Bell always wanted a career in professional sport, but never in a million years did he think AFL is where he'd end up.
Each weekend, the former Australian Under 18s prop packs down with Bond University's first grade side as they defend their 2025 Queensland Premier Rugby Premiership.
But during the week, he's working behind enemy lines as a membership sales and acquisition executive at the Gold Coast Suns.
“One of the biggest things rugby has taught me is that no one owes you anything in life - you've got to go out there and do it,” Bell said.
“A full-time role opened up in December and both Bond and the Suns were able make it work so I could finish my Sport Management degree while I was working full-time.
“I've got a young family with eight-month-old Hudson at home so it’s full on, but I’ve had so much support from Bond and from my partner Liv who really motivated me to go after the opportunity.
Strangely, Bell isn’t the only Bull Shark clocking on at Suns Carrara head office each morning.
Fellow rugby gun, Zara Colless, is also on the Suns’ payroll.
When Colless isn’t lining up for Bond’s Premier Women or the Queensland Reds Super W Rugby, she’ll be at Suns HQ working as a sports scientist.
Colless completed a Masters of Exercise and Sports Science at Bond before undertaking a Masters thesis focusing on lower limb injuries through an internship with the Suns — an opportunity that eventually opened the door to a full-time role.
“After the last exam in my degree I was like, ‘oh, okay, what next?’” Colless said.
“We had an alumni sports science Facebook group and an opportunity to do a Masters thesis with the Suns was posted.
“I ended up getting it and interned for two years before securing a full-time role.
“When I first started, I had no idea about the rules of AFL, but I've enjoyed working in a different sport and learning something new.”
Colless’ four years with the Bull Sharks has prepared her well for the cross-code challenge.
“Sport provides such a flexible and fast-moving workplace and being able to deal with that on the go is something you have to learn,” Colless said.
“Then there’s being able to talk to the athletes as well all the different stakeholders.
“Being exposed to that sort of environment early through playing sport and having that player mindset, I’ve been able transition it into a staff mindset.”
Even if rugby has his heart when Bell walks through the gates of People First Stadium, he never feels out of place.
“Developing sport on the Gold Coast is one of my biggest passions so I feel so lucky to be working in it,” Bell said.
“I’d love to write a thesis on how we grow our professional sporting clubs here even further as it can be challenging with a lower population and smaller pathways programs than the bigger cities.
“We don’t have an established history like Collingwood, and I think history is the most important part of a club, but the Suns are slowly developing history and an identity.
“The Gold Coast will be a completely different place for the sport in 20 years.
“I think it will shock a few people.”
Now when Colless and Bell pull on the Bull Sharks’ blue and gold each Saturday, they find inspiration close to home.
“The main similarity at between the Suns and Bond is way the groups gel,” Colless said.
“A lot of the Suns girls came through the academy program and have been mates for a long time in their local clubs.
“It’s the same at Bond - those girls are my best mates, and we've all come up through the same sort of programs.
“In both teams, the players are all good friends that just want to work hard for each other.”
For Bell, sport represents something bigger than just the game.
“A lot of what I do is for my family - Liv and Hudson - but also my mum, brothers, and in-laws too.
“They’ve all been so supportive and instrumental in me pursuing opportunities and I’m so grateful.
“My rugby career led me to the Gold Coast where I’ve now developed my own family and career.
“It’s where I now call home.”