WHEN Khaled El-Souki first started watching footy, Bachar Houli was the only player that represented his community. But now two close mentors – Hussien El Achkar and Adam Sweid – have shone a light on the last steps to the AFL for teenage Muslim athletes.
El Achkar and Sweid were drafted last November to Essendon and Fremantle respectively and both, like El-Souki, represent far more than just themselves when they play football. All three are from large Lebanese families, from Muslim communities in Melbourne's west and are proud graduates of the Bachar Houli Foundation.
Now El-Souki is set to join the pair in the AFL when his landing spot is determined at November's Telstra AFL Draft after overcoming an injury interrupted season that forced him to miss all but the last game of Vic Metro's Marsh AFL National Under-18 Boys Championships due to a nasty ankle fracture, but didn't stop him kicking the most goals (40) in the Talent League.
El-Souki has always kicked goals in Melbourne's western suburbs playing for Spotswood, Newport, Point Cook or Yarraville Seddon. And always drawn plenty of family and friends to his end behind the goals, moving every quarter with him.
A move to the Western Bulldogs remains in play for El-Souki, who is a member of the club's Next Generation Academy, after a Deadline Day manoeuvre (more on that later), but no matter who he plays for next, he brings a community with him.
"It means so much to represent the Lebanese community and more specific the Muslim community. I'm just so proud to be a Muslim and Lebanese. I just want to do everyone proud and make everyone happy," El-Souki told AFL.com.au at the Telstra AFL Draft Combine last month.
"Honestly, I didn't think it was possible for a Muslim to get drafted because there was only 'Bash' [when I was a kid]. There was only a couple. So I basically didn't have hope of getting drafted until seeing other Muslim boys getting drafted and picked up. Then I was like, 'Oh, there's a chance.' So I made sure I put my head down and I locked in."
After Houli made his mark in the AFL, Adam Saad took the baton and rose from a mature-age rookie at Gold Coast to a star at Essendon to an All-Australian at Carlton, finishing at Princes Park this year with 219 AFL games to his name.
Saad El-Hawli played 17 games for Essendon across the past two seasons after being plucked from the Northern Bullants midway through 2024. But now El Achkar and Sweid are the new kids on the block.
"They've been so good to me, especially this year in my top-age year. They're just reaching out, making sure I'm doing everything right, always there for me," El-Souki said.
Houli has always been there. First from afar, then up close through his foundation. Like El-Souki, the three-time premiership Tiger grew up in the same neighbourhoods, playing for Spotswood and the Western Jets before getting drafted.
Last year, a small group from the Bachar Houli Foundation travelled to Dubai for a pre-season training camp and a game against AFL Middle East. Fitness has been a focus for El-Souki. Houli set him the challenge of a 6:45 2km time trial, and he beat it.
"Bachar is the role model I've had throughout my whole life. I'm really close with 'Bash'. Personally, he's helped me a lot, like he does everything for me," he said.
"I remember last year we were going to Dubai and he was like, 'Make sure you're running a 6:45 2k by then.' And right as soon as we were there, I ran a 6:44. It made him be happy.
"It was so special just to go overseas to have a pre-season – it was like an AFL pre-season – so it was like big sessions, then we also had a game against AFL Middle East. It was so special to play footy overseas."
The Bulldogs were the most active club of the trade period, landing Zak Butters in the League's biggest move in 20 years, which was also linked to the trade that signed Finn Maginness and Hudson O’Keefe, a week after Jordon Butts joined as a free agent.
Pick No.12, 31 and a 2028 first-round pick all departed the kennel, along with a 2027 second-round pick on Deadline Day, that netted picks No. 42 and 53 from Brisbane, which are expected to be used on El-Souki.
El-Souki has been a member of the Western Bulldogs' Next Generation Academy since he was 13 and would love the chance to play for Luke Beveridge's side at the highest level. He played a game for Footscray in the VFL in August and kicked three goals against North Melbourne, displaying his deep array of tricks inside 50.
He knows nothing is guaranteed. At least not yet. Sweid lived that last year, moving across the country from his tightknit family and community to join the Dockers after the Bombers didn't match the bid at pick No.25.
"I've been wanting to get drafted since I was eight years old. Wherever I get drafted to, I just want to make my family and the community proud," El-Souki said.
"I'm just really, really keen to get on an AFL list, so if it means I have to go interstate, I'll be really keen to do that. I think that [Sweid] is the perfect example. To see a brother like me to move interstate is great to see.
"I'm so grateful for everything the Bulldogs have done for me. They've helped my development so much. I've gone to the club every school holidays and worked with them since I was 13. So we will see what happens."
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Plenty of recruiters believe El-Souki will be off the board by the conclusion of night one on November 19. If not then, then early the following night. No matter what happens, El-Souki wants to inspire the next generation of Australian Muslim athletes.
"I want to be someone these younger Muslim kids that are aspiring to be AFL players look up to me; I want to be a good example for them," he said.
If you can see it, you can be it. El-Souki is ready to take the next step and be it.