Faith, family and football: Adam Saad on how he can be a better person and footballer
Growing up as a mad Collingwood supporter, Adam Saad had few Islamic role medals. But he will get to play alongside one of them for Victoria on Friday night. Here’s what he’s expecting.
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Adam Saad could hardly have been further away when bushfires engulfed large parts of south-eastern Australia in the crossover between the old and new years.
He was immersed in a religious pilgrimage to Medina and Mecca, in Saudi Arabia – celebrated in the Muslim faith as Umrah – when he heard sketchy reports of what was happening back home.
It sounded bad.
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But it wasn't until the Essendon defender and five members of his family arrived back in Melbourne that he realised just how devastating the fires had been.
“I didn't know anyone personally affected,” Saad said this week.
“But we sent our prayers and were praying for the fires to be put out. We prayed to give the families patience and to let them know they were going to get support.
“When I got back and I read the stories and saw the images, it probably took a good hour for it to sink in about how much of the country was on fire.
“It affected me.
“It was hard to sort of process that kind of emotion.
“Everyone has come together to support the cause and hopefully we can raise the money to help rebuild the lives of those in the communities.”
Saad, 25, gets a chance to play a small role in that on Friday night when makes his debut for Victoria against the All-Stars in the Bushfire Relief game.
Having never represented his state before, it’s an honour he holds dear. But he hasn't lost sight of the real cause.
“What a privilege it is to be able to represent your state,” Saad told the Sunday Herald Sun.
“It's for a bigger cause as well, to help the people affected by the bushfires.”
Those who know Saad attest he is a deep thinker and a compassionate person, not just about the game in which he has excelled.
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He throws everything into those passions – as a devout Muslim who prays five times a day, a member of a large and loving family (most of whom live in the same northern suburbs street), an AFL footballer determined to better himself for the sake of Essendon, and a leader and coach in the multicultural space for aspiring young players through his Adam Saad Academy at The Hangar, and coach of his brother Noah's Glenroy under-16s team.
Saad might seem time poor for all of those endeavours, but he insisted this week he was rich in many other ways.
“I'm very fortunate,” Saad said.
“Religion is the No.1 thing for me. It is a way of life.
“I go to the Mosque every single day. I am practising every day and we are taught in Islam about the importance of having good character. It’s something I’m trying to improve on every day.
“It's about being respected and respectful. It is about helping people, smiling and having positive vibes.”
His New Year pilgrimage to some of the Middle East's holiest sites was one of the high points of his life.
He credits his previous visit – 12 months earlier – with providing him with the peace of mind and clarity to help produce his best AFL season, in which he played all but one game for the Bombers and was third in the club's best-and-fairest.
“I love starting the year off like that,” he said.
“It is so peaceful learning about my religion and for a practising Muslim, it is an amazing experience.
“You go over there and it purifies your soul. You come back with a clearer mind. You practice patience and you learn to appreciate what you have.”
Saad, his mother Nejme, his wife (whom he married last October), his sister and two of his brothers spent three nights each in Medina and Mecca.
“There was a lot of worship,” he said. “It was worth seeing the Kaaba (the building at the centre of Islam's Great Mosque of Mecca).
“It is the house of God.
“There were close to a million people (at Umrah).”
One day he plans to do the Hajj pilgrimage, which Muslims are required to do once in their life.
Saad thrives on the connection between religion, family and football. Those bonds are unbreakable.
As a kid growing up in Melbourne, barracking for Collingwood at the behest of his footy-obsessed father Zafir, Saad had few Islamic football role models, other than watching Bachar Houli, who is six years his senior.
Now, the pair are “brothers”.
Saad speaks with Houli at least once a week and finally gets the chance to run out on the field as a teammate, wearing the Big V.
“He (Houli) was always someone you could relate to,” Saad said. “Seeing Bachar go through Essendon and then Richmond, and just the way he balanced his footy with his religion, paved the way forward for Muslims.
“He is my brother in Islam and a brother in the way I look up to him."
Saad joked this week he won't be able to help himself but pass to Houli at some stage next Friday.
“I love the way Bachar plays,” he said.
“We are similar in ways, but we both have our own styles.
“Bachar is a big-time player, in Grand Finals and finals.
“You watch ‘Dusty’ (Martin) and (Scott) Pendlebury and (Patrick) Dangerfield. It's going to be fun to play with those types of players.”
Saad followed on from Houli, establishing his own multicultural Australian rules academy. Each helps the other's academy.
“My academy is an elite multicultural program … there are some Muslims, there were a few Greek boys, some Italians,” Saad said.
“I had 25 boys last year, it was an eight-week program. We teach them about nutritional requirements, leadership sessions, cultural awareness as well as footy development and skills. We try to give them the opportunity to become good footballers, but also try to teach them to be role models in the community.
“At the same time we want them to be role models in their households as well.”
Saad's academy has been an overwhelming success. There are plans to extend the program.
That's not his only foray into coaching – he will be in charge of Glenroy under-16s in the Essendon District Football League for 2020 for all but four matches, missing only when the Bombers have Sunday slots.
“Noah (Saad's brother) played there last year and I felt like it was my responsibility to get involved, take them on and coach the boys,” he said.
“It's the same (principle) as the academy. I want to teach them footy skills, but I also want to teach them to be good people.”
He trains the Glenroy under-16s twice a week after full days at Essendon's Tullamarine headquarters.
“It's already been rewarding. I want to make a difference if I can,” he said.
That's not to say he isn't devoted to his improvement as a player, or the growth of Essendon's team.
While his father hasn't let go of his black and white passion, that's long gone for Saad, who feels at home with Essendon as he enters his third season.
“You want to improve every year and I've been grateful I have been able to complete every (pre-season) session,” he said.
Coming off his best AFL season as a rebounding half-back, Saad is only eight games short of his 100th game.
He played 48 for the Suns over three seasons and has played 44 for the Bombers.
And he is desperate to play more finals after the disappointment of last year's elimination final loss to West Coast
“God willing, I will get to 100 (games),” he said.
“That would be an amazing achievement. I always say I am just grateful to be playing AFL.”
That sort of gratitude sweeps through all aspects of his life – as a husband, son, brother, coach, teammate, leader, and most of all, a believer.
If Saad can help impart those traits on to others – and enhance his own game – the smile which sits so easily on his face won't be disappearing any time soon.
Originally published as Faith, family and football: Adam Saad on how he can be a better person and footballer