Full Name: BACHAR HOULI
Date of Birth: 12/05/1988
Height: 180 cm ( 5-11 )
Weight: 85 kg ( 13-6 )
Guernsey: 14
Debut: 24/03/2011, Round 1, Carlton
Last Game: 01/07/2021 Round 16, Gold Coast
RICHMOND SENIORS
Seasons: 2011-21
Total Games: 206
Total Goals: 34
Honours:
2020 Premiership player
2019 Premiership player
2017 Premiership player
2017 AFLCA Grand Final Best player (voted on by both Grand Final coaches)
BIOGRAPHY
Bachar Houli was born in Australia to Lebanese parents , he was raised as a devout Muslim ( praying 5 times a day and fasting for the holy month of Ramadan) . Bachar enjoyed a very successful Junior career at Spotswood and later at the Western Jets in the TAC Cup.
He joined his brothers in AFL football at the age of 11 but hid his participation from his parents who wanted him to concentrate on his schooling. He won the U/12 Best and Fairest award , with his parents finding out and taking some time to begin what became a life time of encouragement for Bachar ‘s football. Bachar won two league Best and Fairest with Spotswood and progressed to Western Jets TAC Club, Captaining the U/16 Vic Metro team at the 2004 National Championships and V-Captain of U/18 Vic Metro team in the 2006 National Championships .
Bachar was drafted by Essendon with pick 42 in the 2006 AFL National Draft and played four seasons with Essendon .
Bachar , out of contract at the end of 2010 and frustrated with Essendon for not playing in the senior team , requested a trade to
Richmond. After tense negotiations failed to reach a deal, Bachar was taken by Richmond with pick 3 overall in the 2011 AFL Pre-season Draft.
Bachar became a regular player with the Tigers senior team. In March 2013 Richmond senior coach Damien Hardwick said ‘ as a
half-back flanker , he ( Bachar ) is elite at what he does . He wins the ball back well , he uses it effectivelyby hand and foot and he plays the role that we want in the side to an elite level ‘.
Bachar continued to be a star player for the Tigers senior team and played in Premierships in 2017 , 2019 and 2020. In the 2017 and 2019 Premierships Bachar voted strongly in the Norm Smith Medal for the best player in the Grand Final headed only by the Dustin Martin. In 2020 Bachar injured a calf early in the game and while in some pain he supported the Coach’s request to play on to assist the rotations of the team.
Bachar was restricted to 12 games in the 22 game 2021 season because of injury , his absence impacting on the Tigers failure to
make the finals. While playing football , Bachar continued to observe the practices of his Muslin faith and describes in his book “ Faith Football and Family” how he was able to receive the support of his teammates . Bachar’s book is a very interesting story about a young man making the best of everything he tackles and has a very understandable explanation of
the Muslim faith .
Bachar retired from AFL football at the end of the 2021 season. Bachar has established the Bachar Houli Foundation ( BHF ) which is a unique not–for-profit organization that aims to develop young leaders within the Muslin community – Bachar is one who definitely walks the talk.
PRE RICHMOND
Spotswood ( Two under age League Best & Fairest ) , Western Jets (
U/16 Vic Metro Captain, U/18 Vic Metro team in 2016 ) , Essendon
2007-2010 Games 26 Goals 9.
Essendon. Joined Richmond with pick 3 in 2011 Pre- Season Draft.
POST RICHMOND
Bio written by Leon Daphne
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