Adam Saad's sister, Aicha, has written this piece for goldcoastfc.com.au about her brother's AFL debut on Saturday.
I never thought the day would come when I would be sitting at the MCG watching my brother live out his dream, the feeling was indescribable and I can only imagine how Ads would of felt. After the game we all rallied around him and off course he asked if we wanted an autograph but all jokes aside Ads told me the feeling was “Amazing, I still can’t believe it, I’m pretty lucky”.
After leaving Melbourne and flying out to his new home, my family and our friends had to quickly adjust to life without him. It wasn’t easy but dad always reminds us that Ads isn’t a young boy any more. After four years of hard work, it’s his time to shine; and being away from home is a small factor to living out his dream. Every day I have someone new wishing my family luck and congratulating Ads on his achievement; the support and love he’s received is beyond words and each day he tells me how grateful he is to every person that supports, how he has the best support base and how he wants to make everyone proud.
Four months ago we were all anxiously hoping to finally see Ads get drafted, and five months on, his persistence and hard work has finally paid off. I’ve always said being drafted by the SUNS is going to do wonders for him, if he puts in the hard work and persists in never giving up, his football journey will be remarkable. Each year Ads has a goal with his football, this year it was to be elevated and become a senior player as well as debut in round one. I knew if he lived by his motto of ‘never giving up’, both goals would be accomplished and I’d be sitting in the stands at the MCG cheering my brother on as well as the SUNS.
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From a young age, playing AFL football was a dream to Ads but he’s always said playing AFL was for my dad Zaf, who he considers to be his biggest supporter as well as his harshest critic. "Dad’s always being very active with my football, he tells me when I do well but also when I don’t and I need that. He’s my biggest supporter and inspiration; knowing I’ve made him proud is extremely satisfying."
Adam Saad and his family before his AFL debut on Saturday.
Finding out Ads was playing in his first NAB Challenge game was surreal; the overall experience was extremely gratifying. A few of my family members, as well as Ads’ friends, flew to Queensland to watch him play in the final NAB game against Brisbane and it was then when it finally dawned on us how much he’s achieved in a short amount of time as well as how extremely proud we all were of him.
We all found out about his elevation the next day and you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face, but I’ve always said to him, “We never doubted in your ability to play AFL, but by you never giving up on your dream taught not just myself, but many others that never believed in fighting, to never give up because it can happen”. When mum, dad, the rest of the family and friends found out about his elevation, there wasn’t not a proud smile in sight, there’s no doubting Ads wouldn’t be where he is without the support and love he receives constantly with his football and you’ll all never understand the gratitude he has to each supporter.
After his elevation we all had a sense he would be playing round one in our hometown and we were all ecstatic; and having 100 tickets to distribute to a Lebanese family was tough but the Saady Army will always be in full force. Watching him run out onto the MCG as a senior player, we all couldn’t be more proud. Family, friends and the boys from the Coburg Lions were all there to witness Ads not only play his first AFL game but also kick his first AFL goal. April 4th is my new favourite date as I witnessed my brother finally live out his dream and it’s something I’ll never forget.
“A day, a moment, an experience I will never forget”, is how he describes his first game and now that the excitement of his debut game is finally over, Ads is determined in pushing hard in cementing a permanent spot on the team. It’s quite funny, most of our family and friends were Collingwood, Carlton or Essendon supporters but without a doubt we’ve all traded to the SUNS and are quite happy about it. Throughout the last five months the greatest aspect about his football journey thus far is his story and how his dream was never over because he didn’t want it to be over.
His overall message inspires many and as his sister makes me so incredibly proud to see Ads not only live out his dream but also teach others to never give up.
