Bachar Houli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bachar Houli
Houli with Richmond in March 2017
Personal information
Date of birth	(1988-05-12) 12 May 1988 (age 37)
Place of birth	Melbourne, Victoria
Original team	Western Jets (TAC Cup) Spotswood (WRFL)
Draft	No. 42, 2006 national draft, Essendon No. 3, 2011 pre-season draft, Richmond
Debut	Round 7, 2007, Essendon v. Kangaroos, at Docklands
Position(s)	Defender
Career highlights
3× AFL premiership player: 2017, 2019, 2020 All-Australian team: 2019 Yiooken Award: 2019 AFL Rising Star nominee: 2008 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award: 2020

Bachar Houli OAM (born 12 May 1988) is a former Australian rules football star. He played 232 games over 15 years in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for both the Richmond and Essendon teams.

Bachar is famous for winning three premierships with Richmond. He was also named an All-Australian player in 2019. He is known as the first devout Muslim player in the AFL. He was the third Muslim player overall.

In 2025, Houli will play for the Newport Football Club. This team is in the Western Football Netball League (WFNL).

Bachar Houli's Early Life and Junior Football

Bachar Houli was born in Australia. His parents came from Lebanon in the 1970s. He grew up in the western suburbs of Melbourne, in Altona North and Tarneit. He went to high school at Werribee Islamic College. Bachar was raised as a devout Muslim. He prayed five times a day. He also fasted during the holy month of Ramadan.

He started playing Australian rules football at age 11. He followed his older brothers into the sport. At first, he hid it from his parents. They wanted him to focus on school. In his first season in 2000, he won an award. He was the best and fairest player in the under-12 league. He played for Spotswood Football Club. After this, his parents found out. By his third season, they started to support his football. He won two more league awards. He was also chosen for the Western Jets team in the TAC Cup.

In 2004, Houli was chosen to captain the Victorian Metropolitan team. They played in the AFL under-16 championships. The next year, he was picked for the AFL Under 18 Championships. But he could not play due to a back injury. Later that year, he also tore his Achilles tendon in a bike accident.

In 2006, Houli had more back problems. But he still played. He was vice-captain for Vic Metro at the 2006 AFL Under 18 Championships. He helped his team win the tournament. They were undefeated.

Before the 2006 draft, Houli talked to a sheikh. He decided to break his Ramadan fast for three days. This was for the AFL Draft Camp tests. He did very well in these tests. He was among the top five for the three-kilometre run and the beep test.

Bachar Houli's AFL Career Highlights

Houli with Essendon during his debut season in May 2007

Playing for Essendon (2007–2010)

In the 2006 AFL national draft, Essendon picked Houli. He was the 42nd player chosen overall.

He first played for Essendon in a special match in February 2007. He spent the first few weeks playing for Essendon's VFL team, the Bendigo Bombers. He played as a half-forward and midfielder. He had many disposals in his first games. Because of this, he made his AFL debut in round 7. He played against the Kangaroos. He had 15 disposals and kicked a goal with his very first kick in AFL. He played four AFL matches in 2007.

In 2008, Houli played well in the pre-season. He started playing as a half-back too. He played in the main team for the first 11 weeks. He got a Rising Star nomination. He also got his first Brownlow Medal vote. But he got a groin injury that needed surgery. This meant he missed most of the season. He played 10 AFL matches in 2008.

In 2009, Houli returned from injury. He played in the first round. But he was sent back to the reserves team. He played well there and was called back to the AFL team in round 7. He played five more weeks. He had a career-best 31 disposals in round 10. He later got a leg injury that ended his season. He played only seven matches in 2009.

In 2010, Houli had a full pre-season. But he started the year in the reserves. He played a few AFL games. He was often sent back to the VFL team. He played a VFL final during Ramadan. He tried to keep his fast strictly. He lost a lot of weight and almost fainted. After this, he decided to drink water and sports drinks during future daytime Ramadan games. He played five AFL games in 2010.

After 2010, Houli was frustrated with Essendon. He wanted to play more senior games. He asked to be traded to Richmond. The two clubs could not agree on a trade. So, Houli left Essendon after four years and 26 AFL games.

Playing for Richmond (2011–2021)

Houli handballs during play in round 13, 2017

Richmond drafted Houli in the pre-season draft. He was the third player picked.

He immediately played for Richmond in round 1 of 2011. He played as a midfielder and defender. He had 30 or more disposals in several games. He was named one of Richmond's best players. He played all 22 matches that season. He became an important player for Richmond. He finished fourth in the club's best and fairest award.

In 2012, Houli kept playing well. He signed a new two-year contract. He played all 22 matches again. He was one of the top players at the club for disposals.

Before the 2013 season, experts called Houli an "elite" defender. He played well, getting many disposals and marks. He missed some games due to a hamstring injury. He played in his first final match. Richmond lost, but he played well. He played 21 matches and finished 10th in the club's best and fairest award.

Houli in February 2014

Houli signed another two-year contract before the 2014 season. He played his 100th AFL match in round 10. He had a career-high 33 disposals in round 14. He was a consistent player. He played in Richmond's final game, where they lost. He played all 23 matches that year. He finished ninth in the club's best and fairest award.

In 2015, Houli started the season strongly. He had 32 disposals in round 3. He played his 100th match for Richmond in round 13. He continued to play well. For the third year in a row, Richmond made the finals. They lost in the first game. Houli played all 23 games. He finished ninth in the club's best and fairest award.

Houli training with Richmond in December 2016

In 2016, Houli had great form. He broke his own record for disposals in rounds 2 and 3. He got 35 and 36 disposals. He broke his right wrist in training. This injury kept him out for over 10 weeks. He returned to play in the VFL first. Then he came back to the AFL in round 19. He played 12 AFL matches that year. He considered leaving Richmond but decided to stay.

In 2017, Houli played his 150th AFL game in round 1. He had some great games. In round 14, he was suspended for four weeks for striking an opponent. This was after a long process with the AFL. When he returned, he played well in the finals. He was one of the best players in the 2017 AFL Grand Final. He had 25 disposals and kicked a goal. Richmond won their first premiership in 37 years! Houli became a premiership player. He also finished equal-eighth in the club's best and fairest award.

Houli kicking in round 2, 2017

In 2018, Houli had a calf injury before the season. He returned in round 2. He played his 150th match for Richmond in round 7. He then got a serious groin injury in round 10. This kept him out for many weeks. He returned late in the season. In round 22, he was an honorary captain. He joined another Muslim player, Adam Saad, to toss the coin. This was to support the Muslim-Australian community. Richmond finished first on the ladder. Houli played well in the finals. But Richmond lost in the preliminary final. He played 15 matches that year.

Houli celebrates a second premiership after the 2019 AFL Grand Final

In 2019, Houli was in great form. He missed some games with a hamstring strain. But when he played, he was amazing. In round 10, he won the Yiooken Award. He had a career-high 37 disposals. He also gained 814 metres for his team. He played his 200th AFL match in round 19. He had seven games with over 30 disposals that year. At the end of the season, he was named in the All-Australian team for the first time. He also got a career-best 11 Brownlow Medal votes.

In the finals, Houli was one of Richmond's best players. He helped them win the preliminary final. The next week, Richmond won the 2019 AFL Grand Final by 89 points. Houli became a two-time premiership player! He was second best on ground in the Grand Final. He played 22 matches and finished seventh in the club's best and fairest award.

Houli representing Victoria at the State of Origin for Bushfire Relief Match in February 2020

In 2020, Houli had a calf strain before the season. He played in a special charity match for bushfire relief. He helped Victoria win. He missed round 1 due to another calf strain. The season was then paused because of the coronavirus pandemic. Houli returned in round 2. He was best on ground in that game. He had 26 disposals.

Later, the team moved to the Gold Coast. Houli stayed in Melbourne for a while after his third child was born. He joined the team later and had to quarantine. He returned to play in round 13. He played well in the finals. He became a three-time premiership player! Richmond won the Grand Final by 31 points. He got a calf injury early in that game. But he kept playing.

He also won the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award. This was for his work helping young Muslim people through the Bachar Houli Foundation.

In 2021, Houli spent the off-season recovering from his calf injury. He missed the first three games. He returned in round 4. In round 9, he played his 200th AFL match for Richmond. He played several more games. But he got an ankle injury in round 16. This needed surgery. He tried to recover but could not play again that season.

Before the final round, Houli announced he was retiring from AFL football. He had a 15-year career. He played four years at Essendon and 11 years at Richmond. He played 232 games and won three premierships. He was also an All-Australian player once.

Bachar Houli's Player Style

Houli was a left-foot kicker. He played as a rebounding half-back. This means he would get the ball from defense and kick it long to start attacks. He was known for his powerful kicks and running ability. He helped his team move the ball forward.

Early in his career, he played in different roles. But he became a permanent half-back in his second and third seasons.

By his seventh season, Houli was one of the best defenders in the league. In 2019, he was the only defender ranked highly for disposals, metres gained, and intercept possessions. In 2020, he was named Richmond's 13th-best player of the AFL era.

Bachar Houli's AFL Statistics

Notes

Bachar Houli's Awards and Achievements

Team Awards

• 3× AFL premiership player (Richmond): 2017, 2019, 2020
• McClelland Trophy (Richmond): 2018

Individual Awards

• All-Australian: 2019
• Fred Swift Medal (4th RFC B&F): 2011
• AFL Rising Star nominee: 2008
• Yiooken Award: 2019
• Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award: 2020

Junior Awards

• U18 national champion: 2006
• U16 Victoria Metro captain: 2004

Bachar Houli's Personal Life

Bachar Houli was the first devout Muslim to play in the AFL. He was the third Muslim player overall. His family comes from Mish Mish in Lebanon. He is also only the second player of Lebanese background in the AFL.

Houli got permission from religious leaders to break his Ramadan fast on AFL match days. He also adjusted his training during the holy month. He usually fasts during games. But he will drink water or sports drinks if he is close to dehydration.

In September 2009, Houli married Rouba Abou-Zeid. They have two daughters, born in 2014 and 2017. They also have a son, born in 2020.

In June 2023, Houli was in a serious accident. He was injured but recovered.

In October 2023, Houli shared a video on social media. It was about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. His former club Richmond asked him to take it down. After the AFL got involved, Houli removed the video. He then shared an apology. He said he is a man of faith and peace. He does not support the killing of any innocent people. He wants to bring people together.

Bachar Houli's Community Work

Houli is a leader in his community. He inspires young Australian Muslims to play Australian rules football. In 2012, he became an AFL multicultural ambassador. He helped create a program for Islamic schools.

That same year, Houli asked AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou for prayer rooms at AFL venues. This would help Muslim fans attend games and pray.

In 2012, Houli started the Bachar Houli Academy. This program helps young Muslim footballers develop their skills. It also helps them get involved in the community. He also started the Bachar Houli Cup. This is a football competition for Islamic schools. It ends with a national tournament. This program was nominated for an international award in 2013. In 2019, the Bachar Houli Foundation was created. It helps run these football and leadership programs.

In 2017, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull praised Houli's community work. He said it was very important. In 2012, Houli won an award for promoting understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. In 2021, he received the Torch of Justice Award. This was for his work against racism and bullying.

Bachar Houli's Autobiography

In November 2020, Houli wrote a book. It is called Bachar Houli: Faith, Football and Family. Penguin Books published it. The book was well-received by readers.

See also

• Islam in Australia