Bachar Houli

Bachar Houli
Houli playing for Richmond in March 2017
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-05-12) 12 May 1988
Place of birth Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Original team(s) Western Jets (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 42, 2006 AFL National Draft: Essendon
Debut Round 7, 2007, Essendon
vs. Kangaroos, at Telstra Dome
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 84 kg (185 lb)
Position(s) Defender / Midfielder
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 14
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2007–2010 Essendon 026 0(9)
2011– Richmond 159 (32)
Total 185 (41)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2018 season.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Bachar R. Hashim El-Houli (Arabic: بشار حولي‎, born 12 May 1988) is an Australian rules footballer for Richmond in the Australian Football League (AFL). Houli plays as a midfielder. He is the second devout Muslim to play in the AFL. Houli stated in an interview at the time of his debut in 2007 that he was the first practicing Muslim to play for a senior AFL side, although he also acknowledged that prior to him there had been two other Muslims in the league, these being Adem Yze and Sedat Sir. He is the first Muslim to have won an AFL premiership.[1]

Early career

Houli was born in Australia to Lebanese parents. The young left-footer began playing football with Spotswood Football Club Under 12s in 2000.[2] After consulting with a Sheikh, Houli decided to break his Ramadan fast for three days during the physical endurance tests at the AFL Draft Camp; this allowed him to record sufficiently good times to impress recruiters and be a viable selection in the draft.

Houli has said it was hard growing up a devout Muslim, and playing Australian rules football at the same time. There was little organised sport played in Islamic schools, and he had to sneak out when he was young in his earlier years in order to just play games without his parents knowing. His persistence playing the sport finally led to his parents accepting and being supportive of his talents which led him to become an AFL player.[3]

AFL career

Houli was drafted at pick 42 in the 2006 National Draft by Essendon. He played four games for the Bombers in 2007 and kicked three goals. After his impressive performances in the Bombers 2008 NAB Cup he was selected for the Bombers Round 1 team to play the Kangaroos. He played an important part in helping the Bombers secure a 55-point victory and received the first round nomination for the AFL Rising Star award.[4] After the completion of the 2010 trade week, Houli left Essendon and was drafted by Richmond with their only selection in the 2010 Pre-season Draft.[5]

Houli picked up three Brownlow Medal votes following a fantastic display for Richmond against Sydney in Round 21 of the 2011 season.

In round 14, 2017, Houli copped an initial two-match suspension for striking Carlton's Jed Lamb during the first quarter of the match between Richmond and Carlton at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. However, the AFL later appealed against this suspension, saying that it was "manifestly inadequate" given the impact of the incident. Subsequently, Houli's suspension was increased to four matches.[6] in the 2017 AFL Grand Final, Houli was considered one of the better players on the ground coming runner-up in the Norm Smith Medal.

Houli played the first nine matches of the 2018 season before suffering a serious groin injury in round 10's win over St Kilda. He was expected to miss more than a month of football as a result.[7]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2018 season[8]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
2007 Essendon 434352024441750.81.35.06.011.04.31.3
2008 Essendon 4310438210819035360.40.38.210.819.03.53.6
2009 Essendon 43701679015733160.00.19.612.922.44.72.3
2010 Essendon 43524465410024170.40.49.210.820.04.83.4
2011 Richmond 142256273205478127550.20.312.49.321.75.82.5
2012 Richmond 142233270201471110480.10.112.39.121.45.02.2
2013 Richmond 142165286180466130390.30.213.68.622.26.21.9
2014 Richmond 142356290205495104570.20.312.68.921.54.52.5
2015 Richmond 142352323188511126590.20.114.08.222.25.52.6
2016 Richmond 14120317512429980290.00.314.610.324.96.72.4
2017 Richmond 142159291205496108750.20.413.99.823.65.13.6
2018 Richmond 14153617514131671260.20.411.79.421.14.71.7
Career 185 41 51 2298 1725 4023 965 462 0.2 0.3 12.4 9.3 21.7 5.2 2.5

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

Personal life

Houli has become a leading influence for many young Australian Muslims; his dedication and commitment to his AFL career has enabled him to become a primary figure in his Muslim community. Houli's role has been likened to that of Hazem El Masri in the Rugby League community, and he currently works one day a week as an AFL cultural ambassador.[9] Adem Yze, a Melbourne regular from 1995 to 2007, was one of the first Muslim Aussie Rules players at AFL level, and Houli has stated his desire to follow in Yze's footsteps. He is also only the second player of a Lebanese background to play in the AFL (the first being Mil Hanna). He is married to Rouba Abou-Zeid.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Laidley hopes forwards hold
  2. ↑ Faith drives Muslim footballer Archived 23 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Muslim News UK
  3. ↑ AFL aims to soften racial divides
  4. ↑ Bachar Houli has claimed the Round 1 Rising Star nomination Herald Sun
  5. ↑ Quayle, Emma (9 December 2010). "Houli looks forward to new journey at Punt Road". The Age. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  6. ↑ Navaratnam, Dinny (29 June 2017). "Appeal upheld: Houli cops extra whack for strike". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "Round 11 injury update". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Bachar Houli". AFL Tables. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  9. ↑ "Prayer rooms compulsory at AFL venues". 19 April 2012.
  10. ↑ Cresswell, Joel (27 September 2011). "Modesty takes points in fashion race".
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