Bachar Houli signs with Newport for 2025 season

A three-time AFL premiership hero will return to the local competition where he made his name but it’s a move which will see him play against his junior club. Here’s what we know.

Bachar Houli is joining Newport. Pic: Michael Klein

The Newport fans kept persisting and now the Panthers have their man.

Bachar Houli has been unveiled as the Western Football Netball League club’s marquee signing ahead of its first season in Division 1.

Houli was once a dominant junior in the competition with Spotswood, who will now become one of his rivals for next season.

The three-time premiership star’s arrival comes just days after Ali Hamad was appointed as the club’s new coach.

“I’ll give credit of the recruitment of Bachar to the supporter base we have at Newport,” Hamad said.

“We’ve got the most passionate and supportive fan base there. Every time they’ve seen him, whether it’s at the mosque or out in public or on a walk or even some of his neighbours, they’ve been talking to him.”

Just how many games and where the 36-year-old plays on the ground is yet to be determined.

Hamad said he could easily slot across halfback like he did at AFL level but there’s also a possibility he plays in the middle.

“It’s going to depend on the game,” he said.

“If we’re losing the ball a lot out of the middle and we do need that experience and composure at halfback and someone to then drive the ball for us, we’ll definitely be playing Bachar there for sure.”

Hamad’s appointment at Newport comes on the back of a season where he was co-coach of East Keilor in the Essendon District league.

“Being my community club, it was a no-brainer when the opportunity came up,” he said.

“Seeing it grow over the last seven years with Ziggy and Marwan building it from where it once was. It’s really come such a long way and I’m looking forward to helping them into the new division.”

The Panthers have re-signed about “85 per cent” of its playing list for next year with several other “A-grade recruits” expected to be announced.

That’s without including an exciting crop of under-18s stepping into the senior program.

“When we get back to pre-season, our first focus is to get fit, get our fundamentals right, try and execute under pressure, and try and educate a game plan and a system eventually,” he said.

“However long that takes, whether it’s a year or two, we’ll give the players, and especially the young players, every opportunity to develop to become Division 1 players.”