Part of the Jet stream
Hollywood lifestyle: Bachar Houli said the life of an AFL footballer is a just reward for all the hard work put it in to get into the system.
THIS time last year, a devout Muslim named Bachar Houli was basking in the sun in Queensland, fielding calls from managers, before the spotlight shone after being selected at No.42 by Essendon in the 2006 national AFL draft.Now, the 19-year-old Tarneit resident reflects on his entrance into the AFL ranks, which led to a barrage of national coverage, more for his religion than his on-field feats.
"It was unreal, actually it's been overexposed I'd say. But at the end of the day, if you get it, you take it," Houli told the Banner.
"But you just don't get ahead of yourself. Especially if you haven't played many games, it can get to your head when you're young. But obviously I have a good head on my shoulders through the support of my older friends [just telling me] to stay patient and you'll get your go pretty soon," he said.
Houli predicts there could be up to three Jets - Callan Ward, Will Sullivan and Rhyce Prismall - join him in the AFL after this Saturday's national draft: "Callan Ward from Spotswood Football Club - which is good, another one from Spotty - it takes the pressure off me.
"Will Sullivan, who's a tall ruckman, pretty athletic. Rhyce Prismall, hopefully."
Prismall is the interesting one. The brother of Geelong's Brent, Rhyce was invited to the state screening camp, but snubbed for the AFL draft camp after an average season on the field, despite gathering momentum last year.
"I played with his older brother too. [They're] different players. They both played midfield but Rhyce is more of a taller player, quicker, more agile. Brent was unreal with his skills, he's dynamic with both sides of his body. All the best to Rhyce, all the best to the rest of the boys, the more the better. Every year, [the Jets] get one drafted - we've got to try and get two or three drafted."
Houli said he kept in contact with his former Jets teammates.
"I catch up with a lot of them in the streets. I say hello and a few words to see how they're going. But I haven't had a chance to go out and watch them too much this season just because of commitments through AFL football. It's the club I developed the most at and you don't forget your origin other than Spotswood Football Club."
Houli, a gun midfielder who recently finished third in Essendon's 3.2 kilometre time trial, believes there is enormous pressure on young players entering the game balancing VCE studies with football.
"There is a lot of pressure but the pressure is put on a lot within themselves.
"There's many players out there who have a great first year at TAC Cup level and then slack off second year because they think they've got it. But at the end of the day, it sends a message to everyone else, that there's no guarantees for anyone.
"You've got to work extremely hard and, when you know that you're there, you've just got to consistently work extremely hard because you can never stop learning because life's a learning process. Especially football, you can't be perfect."
Despite all the physical and mental hurdles, Houli said the AFL lifestyle is a just reward.
"Regardless of where you're at, you've got to treat every game of football as though it's your last game and work to your full potential. It's a great lifestyle, you train six days a week and you're with mates who are like brothers because you spend a lot of your time with them and it's a great job. You get paid for what you love doing."
Don't miss next week's issue for part two of an in-depth interview with Bachar Houli
This is part 1. Part 2 is posted as well
THIS time last year, a devout Muslim named Bachar Houli was basking in the sun in Queensland, fielding calls from managers, before the spotlight shone after being selected at No.42 by Essendon in the 2006 national AFL draft.Now, the 19-year-old Tarneit resident reflects on his entrance into the AFL ranks, which led to a barrage of national coverage, more for his religion than his on-field feats.
"It was unreal, actually it's been overexposed I'd say. But at the end of the day, if you get it, you take it," Houli told the Banner.
"But you just don't get ahead of yourself. Especially if you haven't played many games, it can get to your head when you're young. But obviously I have a good head on my shoulders through the support of my older friends [just telling me] to stay patient and you'll get your go pretty soon," he said.
Houli predicts there could be up to three Jets - Callan Ward, Will Sullivan and Rhyce Prismall - join him in the AFL after this Saturday's national draft: "Callan Ward from Spotswood Football Club - which is good, another one from Spotty - it takes the pressure off me.
"Will Sullivan, who's a tall ruckman, pretty athletic. Rhyce Prismall, hopefully."
Prismall is the interesting one. The brother of Geelong's Brent, Rhyce was invited to the state screening camp, but snubbed for the AFL draft camp after an average season on the field, despite gathering momentum last year.
"I played with his older brother too. [They're] different players. They both played midfield but Rhyce is more of a taller player, quicker, more agile. Brent was unreal with his skills, he's dynamic with both sides of his body. All the best to Rhyce, all the best to the rest of the boys, the more the better. Every year, [the Jets] get one drafted - we've got to try and get two or three drafted."
Houli said he kept in contact with his former Jets teammates.
"I catch up with a lot of them in the streets. I say hello and a few words to see how they're going. But I haven't had a chance to go out and watch them too much this season just because of commitments through AFL football. It's the club I developed the most at and you don't forget your origin other than Spotswood Football Club."
Houli, a gun midfielder who recently finished third in Essendon's 3.2 kilometre time trial, believes there is enormous pressure on young players entering the game balancing VCE studies with football.
"There is a lot of pressure but the pressure is put on a lot within themselves.
"There's many players out there who have a great first year at TAC Cup level and then slack off second year because they think they've got it. But at the end of the day, it sends a message to everyone else, that there's no guarantees for anyone.
"You've got to work extremely hard and, when you know that you're there, you've just got to consistently work extremely hard because you can never stop learning because life's a learning process. Especially football, you can't be perfect."
Despite all the physical and mental hurdles, Houli said the AFL lifestyle is a just reward.
"Regardless of where you're at, you've got to treat every game of football as though it's your last game and work to your full potential. It's a great lifestyle, you train six days a week and you're with mates who are like brothers because you spend a lot of your time with them and it's a great job. You get paid for what you love doing."
Don't miss next week's issue for part two of an in-depth interview with Bachar Houli
This is part 1. Part 2 is posted as well
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