Bachar Houli opens up on his return to the footy field in season 2025

Three years after last pulling on a pair of boots triple Richmond premiership hero Bachar Houli is preparing to play again. But it’s not on the field where he is hoping to make his biggest impact.

Bachar Houli is making a return to the footy field. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Photos.

Bachar Houli, a three-time Richmond premiership hero with a booming left foot, hung up his boots in 2021.

Now, in 2025, he is about to pull them back on as a Newport player in the Western Football Netball League.

The resurrected star is hoping his impact on grassroots footy is more about what he can add off the field, than on.

After 15 years in the AFL and a post-career broken pelvis after a Snowy Mountains car crash, he’s not particularly interested in being the gun recruit for on-field success.

The soon to be 37-year-old hasn’t played since walking away from all those years with Essendon and the Tigers and he’s looking for something he says he never got in the big time.

“I don’t want to be locked down by local football,” Houli said.

“In all due respects, I was locked down for 15 years, I am very grateful for it and the opportunity football has provided me with, but that’s what AFL football does to you,” he said.

“Everything you do, everything you say, you’re accounted for – which is fine. But I wanted a little bit of freedom.

“I just want to have fun. That’s how I played my AFL footy, being out there having a laugh with the boys.”

Bachar Houli. Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Houli hasn’t been short of offers since retiring but never felt the time was right.

But stepping back onto the ground was the furthest thing from his mind.

“I enjoy football, and I like football, don’t get me wrong, but towards the back end of my career, I’d just had enough,” he said.

“I just wanted to move away from football altogether and hence why I haven’t gone out and taken on a coaching role, or something in the media. I’ve just completely disconnected. I just wanted some time to myself, with my family.

“Focus on the foundation we’ve created; we’ve done some wonderful things and just want to continue to build on that.

“Football was not in the picture at all.”

Houli was confirmed as a Newport player on AFL Grand Final Day last year while watching Brisbane beat Sydney at the Newport clubrooms at Langshaw Reserve.

Being surrounded by members of his community, he felt it was the right opportunity to play again.

“When I first committed, I said ‘please don’t expect anything from me’,” he recalled.

“I’m a guy when he commits, I’ll commit. I’m not going to go half-hearted. I’ll help and assist where I can. I still want to enjoy my life; I want to be able to go and do things.

“I know it’s not an AFL football club. I just want to see personnel in the football club change for the better. If I can help in that way – set high values, set high standards – on and off field, I feel like then I’ve done my job.

“Not necessarily getting 30 or 40 disposals a game. For me, leadership qualities or the stuff I can offer off field can potentially have an impact on field.

“Hopefully not everyone expects the world of me – because I am 37 years old. The body is not 24, 25, it’s not even 30. I haven’t played or run at a high intensity for three years.

“For me it’s been a big change, especially after the accident that I have had. It’s obviously slowed me down.

“I’ll enjoy the club and the journey while I’m there.”

Newport is about to embark in its first season of Division 1 footy after being promoted alongside Albion and Sunshine from the second tier.

Panthers coach Ali Hamad admitted last week his club finally being the one to bag Bachar was a “really exciting time”.

Now Houli wants to leave a lasting impression which can help the club continue to scale to new heights.

He said the club’s multicultural community had been a factor in his decision.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the club grow off field. That’s why I have gone to this club,” he said.

“When I looked at the club and I have seen so many players come out of the Bachar Houli Foundation, who were part of the Academies, haven’t made it to the highest level, still played at a decent level but have wanted to come back to local clubs and contribute, it’s fantastic.

“When you look at the under-18s team and you see how many are still in the Academy, how many are at the Jets and the impact you can continue to have. Even though I offer my time to these Academy boys all year round, not just about when we have them together, having that connection twice a week is special.

“Just checking in on how life is going, it’s not just all about footy.

“Yes I’m contributing to the seniors, but I see the club growing from the lower level which is very exciting.”

The opening game of the season will pit Houli against his junior club, Spotswood, who have their own ex-AFL recruit in Lachie Hunter, on Saturday, April 5.

Houli sees it as just another game.

“Honestly I think it’s no different to playing against Altona, Hoppers Crossing, whoever we come up against.

“I know it’s a cliche, but it’s literally session by session for me because I’m at a time in my life where I have to worry about recovering from the previous session.”

Newport’s opening game will be played at Langshaw Reserve from 2.15pm.

Originally published as Bachar Houli opens up on his return to the footy field in season 2025