Adam Saad’s stellar rise from anonymity to the AFL spotlight has continued after the mature-aged rookie was rewarded for his eye-catching performance against Brisbane with the round five NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.
This time last year, Saad was still putting the disappointment of being overlooked in a second successive draft behind him, and toiling away in the VFL for Coburg. Fast-forward twelve months and the nimble half-back has emerged as one of the more damaging rebounding defenders in the competition.
The 20-year-old polished left-footer plays with a level of dare and dash that belies his five-game experience. On Saturday night, in a crucial encounter for the Gold Coast SUNS, Saad produced the best performance of his career to date by collecting 26 possessions and gaining 554 metres in the process.
With each passing day, the boy from Melbourne’s inner north admits he is gradually coming to terms with the fact that he is finally living out his dream. A dream that at one stage appeared like it had passed him by.
“I actually spoke about that a couple of days ago to my cousin. I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet, it's sinking in each day, but it’s still a bit surreal for me living my dream and playing AFL footy. As each day goes by it's slowly, slowly sinking into my head,” Saad told SUNS TV on Monday afternoon.
If Saad’s persistent battle for a spot on an AFL list didn’t make his story intriguing enough, the fact he is only the third Muslim to play AFL football (behind Richmond’s Bachar Houli and St Kilda’s Ahmed Saad) provides another layer to this story.
Adam Saad on the burst against Brisbane on Saturday in QClash 9.
When the VFL product debuted in round one against Melbourne at the MCG, his ticket request entered triple figures. Almost an entire bay sat captive in the cathedral of football, watching Saad take the game on in a manner the football world is quickly becoming accustomed to.
With such a large family and support network, Saad’s family has been there every step of the way. And Saad says that the recognition of the rising star nomination wasn’t for him, rather it was for his family who have picked him up after the rejection of being overlooked by all 18 clubs.
“They were ecstatic (by the nomination). I called my Dad and obviously he was sleeping, he was sleeping when I got drafted as well so he loves to sleep,” Saad said.
“My sisters and cousins and my family were there, they were just rapt because it’s been a long journey. This isn’t just for me, this is for my family as well.”
Saad’s flair and assurance with ball in hand have already made him a favourite with not only the Gold Coast faithul, but also football lovers around the land. The confidence instilled in him by coach Rodney Eade have filled up his confidence tank and allowed him to play to his strengths during his infancy.
“I’ve learned a hell of a lot off ‘Rocket’, it's just more education stuff to give me real confidence at the highest level to try and use my strengths and he’s just given me belief to come in and play my role. Obviously defend first and then use my attacking skills. He’s been really good to me,” Saad said.
“He just tells me whenever I can just pick the right moments to get it and run the ball out of defence. It’s not just ‘Rocket’, it's my teammates as well. They say to me it opens the game up. When the coach tells me that and I can play to my strengths it gives me good confidence.”
With Saad only five games into his career, we may only have read the first chapter or two of his football life. You get the feeling it might be quite a journey.
Congratulations to Adam Saad, the Round 5 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.
