AFL news 2018: Essendon's Adam Saad hugs Bachar Houli in show of unity after Fraser Anning's maiden speech
ESSENDON star Adam Saad on the hurt caused from a politician's speech - and how he hopes to improve relations. Plus Ben Cousins breaks down in court, the latest trade talk and is Jeff Kennett goading Buddy into a big game? RECAP WEDNESDAY'S FOOTY NEWS
Saad, 24, joined Richmond’s Bachar Houli – a fellow Muslim – at the coin toss on Friday night in a show of unity after Anning, a member of the Australia Party, last week delivered his maiden speech in the Senate.
In it, he had declared that Australia should ban Muslims from settling in the country and that a plebiscite on whether to return to a Europe-only immigration system should be held.
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Anning was widely condemned for the comments, and Saad said he and Houli were determined “to show how inclusive the AFL is and how united we are”.
“Looking back at it ... it touched a lot of the Muslim community,” Saad told Fox Footy's On The Mark.
“It’s a special moment that I reckon is going to go down in my career.”
Saad said that while “everyone’s got their opinion”, he believes that education is the key and would be open to discussing the issue with Anning.
“Everyone’s got their opinion, and with my culture and my religion, you’ve got to be educated and you’ve got to want to learn about it,” he said.
“He’s probably made some comments and he doesn’t know what my culture or my religion is about. So it was pretty tough.
“It was tough on my family and myself, and the community in general. For me and Bachar being leaders in our community, if we can educate people and show them what we’re all about and just to be proud of who you are – that’s the main points we want to come across.
“It’s disappointing that he feels ... we can really educate him. He can give me a call or a text and I can have a chat to him and try and educate him.”
The Bombers midfielder said that comments such as Anning’s “can be hurtful”, his family “just take it as it comes”.
His father emigrated to Australia from Lebanon when he was aged 11, with his mother also moving here from the same country.
“I was born and bred here. I’m a proud Muslim Australian,” Saad said.
“Comments like that can’t be hurtful but if you’re going to listen to every single opinion or what everyone says, we’re not going to go forward. We can really help the community.
“The whole Muslim community ... we can all play a part in showing what we’re about. We love helping others, we’re very respectful.”
Saad and his family recently hosted his backline teammates at his home for dinner that needed a hefty list of supplies.
“It was my turn to pick a place for dinner and I thought what better than to invite them into my home to see what we’re all about,” he said.
“There was a massive feast. We had probably 30kg of meat and chicken.
“It was a good night. The boys enjoyed it. They got around what we’re all about.
“Hopefully in years to come I can invite the whole team.”
* Watch On the Mark on Fox Footy Channel 504 at 8.30pm tonight.
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Originally published as AFL news 2018: Essendon's Adam Saad hugs Bachar Houli in show of unity after Fraser Anning's maiden speech
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