World Footy News

Adam Saad from the Gold Coast Suns is the Round Five NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. Adam received votes in the Marcus Ashcroft Medal following the Suns’ 64-point win over the Brisbane Lions in Saturday night’s Q-Clash.

The running defender collected 26 possessions, took seven marks and had nine bounces in the Suns’ first win of the season. After being over looked in two NAB AFL Drafts, Adam, 20, was selection 25 in the 2015 NAB AFL Rookie Draft and was upgraded to the Suns’ senior list after impressing in all three NAB Challenge matches.

He made is AFL debut in Round One and has played all five games this year. Adam played junior football with the West Coburg Football Club and the Calder Cannons. He represented the World XVIIIat the 2011 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships.

He progressed to the Coburg Tigers where he was joint winner of the 2014 club best and fairest and was named in the VFL Team of the Year. He also represented the VFL in an International Rules Challenge match against Ireland late last year.

Adam is one of three practising Muslim players in AFL (Richmond’s Bachar Houli and St Kilda’s Ahmed Saad – no relation).

Suns coach Rodney Eade said Adam has done everything possible to get his chance to play at the highest level.

“Adam is a great story of perseverance. Overlooked in two drafts, he continued to work on his game, and with the help of Peter German and the staff at the Coburg Tigers his hard work resulted in him gaining a rookie spot last year.

“Since arriving on the Gold Coast Adam hasn’t put a foot wrong, his attitude and willingness to learn saw him earn a rookie elevation and selection in our first five games of the season.

“Adam has had a great start to the season, he’s ability to take the game on and generate run for the team has been outstanding. With further development, education and hard work we believe Adam has a exciting career ahead of him,” Eade said.

Following each round of the home and away season, a panel of judges will select a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. At the completion of the season, one of these nominees will be chosen as the 2015 NAB AFL Rising Star.

The 2015 NAB AFL Rising Star winner will be awarded the Ron Evans Medal and a $20,000 personal investment folio and a dedicated personal banker, courtesy of NAB.

NAB continues to grow the game by recognising the junior clubs that helped foster the early careers of the nominated players. Each of the 23 clubs will receive a NAB Club Recognition Award valued at $2500, comprising financial and practical resources. Since supporting the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, NAB has donated over $710,000 worth of resources to junior football clubs through this initiative.

The NAB AFL Rising Star is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.

NAB has been Footifying Australia since 2002 through the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program which comprises the following elements:

· NAB AFL Rising Star
· NAB AFL Draft
· NAB AFL Draft Combine
· NAB AFL Trade Period
· NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
· NAB AFL Academy
 · NAB AFL Under-16 Championships