| Ahmed Saad | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Ahmed Saad | ||
| Born | (1989-10-09)9 October 1989 (age 36) Melbourne, Australia | ||
| Original team | Roxburgh Park (EDFL) | ||
| Draft | Pre-listed recruit,Greater Western Sydney Traded toSt Kilda,2011 Trade Week | ||
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Weight | 75 kg (165 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward pocket and wing | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2010–2011 | Northern Bullants (VFL) | 35 (73) | |
| 2012–2013; 2015 | St Kilda (AFL) | 33 (48) | |
| 2016 | Coburg (VFL) | (49) | |
| Career highlights | |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Ahmed Saad (Arabic:أَحْمَد سَعْد; born 9 October 1989) is anAustralian rules footballer who formerly played for theSt Kilda Football Club in theAustralian Football League (AFL). He was delisted in 2013 after receiving an 18-month suspension for testing positive to a banned substance, but was redrafted by the Saints as a rookie at the end of 2014.
Saad was born to Egyptian parents inAustralia. At age 8 his family moved toEgypt where he played representative soccer as a striker or winger.[1] He returned to Australia at age 14,[1] attending secondary school inRoxburgh Park, Victoria. He played Australian rules football for the first time at age 16, filling in to make up the numbers for his school before joining the localRoxburgh Park Football Club.[2]
Saad joined theNorthern Bullants in theVictorian Football League in 2009 in unusual circumstances. He had not received a formal invitation to join the club but turned up unannounced (inspired by his mother's words of wisdom and encouragement) to an early preseason training session and was permitted to participate.[1] He did not play a senior game in 2009, but went on to play 35 senior games for the club over the following two years.[1] In the 2011 season, Saad kicked 50 goals and won theFothergill–Round Medal as the league's most promising young player.[2]
Saad caught the attention of AFL recruiters in the2011 VFL season and then scored some impressive numbers in the AFL Draft Combine, with the fastest 20m sprint time and the second-highest agility score. He was recruited by theSt Kilda Football Club by indirect means in the2011 Trade Week: the fledglingGreater Western Sydney Giants recruited him directly, then immediately traded him to St Kilda, along withTerry Milera and draft pick 25, in exchange for pick 20. Saad was 22 years old when he was recruited.[2]
Saad made his debut in Round 6,2012, against Hawthorn at theMelbourne Cricket Ground.[3] In round 7, 2012, his goal againstCarlton and in Round 21, his goal againstGeelong were both nominated forGoal of the Year.
Saad received an 18-month ban after testing positive to a banned substance. Saad consumed anenergy drink "Before Battle" which contained the banned stimulantmethylsynephrine.[4]
Saad was delisted by St Kilda as a result of the investigation at the end of the 2013 season.[5] He was redrafted as a rookie by St Kilda in the2015 Rookie Draft. He played four games for St Kilda during the 2015 season and was delisted again in October 2015.[6]
Saad returned to the VFL in 2016, and joined stand-alone clubCoburg.[7] He kicked 49 goals in the 2016 season to lead the VFL and win theFrosty Miller Medal. He was also named Full Forward in the VFL team of the year.[8]
Saad graduated fromRoxburgh College in 2007. He is the first player of Egyptian background and the third practisingMuslim (afterSedat Sir andBachar Houli) to be on the AFL playing list.[citation needed] In 2012 he was nominated as one of the AFL's multicultural ambassadors.