Adam Sweid and Hussien El Achkar were both drafted last week, becoming the seventh and eighth Muslims to reach the top flight of AFL.
Out of the Bachar Houli Foundation (BHF), Sweid and El Achkar became the second and third academy graduates to be drafted after Saad El-Hawli was taken by the Bombers with pick No. 13 in the 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
Sweid and El Achkar have been participants of BHF academies since the age of 12, progressing all the way through to the age of 18.
Both have been Bachar Houli Medallists in the past and participants of the Foundation’s international Elite Performance Academy in the United Arab Emirates on multiple occasions.
Sweid, a powerful mid/forward, propelled his name into first-round calculations after a stellar season in the Coates Talent League (CTL) and the AFL National Championships this year.
For the Calder Cannons, Sweid averaged 25 disposals to finish 11th in the league’s total disposal count. He also earned Under-18 All-Australian honours after averaging 17 possessions for Vic Metro.
Speaking to fremantlefc.com.au last Wednesday night, Sweid said “The nerves were skyrocketing. I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”
“It was a long night. Obviously, we came here at 7 o’clock for picks one to 25, but it was an amazing experience and I’m just so happy you guys (Freo) chose me, and I’m excited to go to Perth,” Sweid said.
El Achkar, an Essendon Next Generation Academy (NGA)/James Hird Academy participant, landed at the Bombers after the Club matched Richmond’s bid at pick No. 53.
This season, the livewire forward was a stand-out performer for the Cannons, booting 28 goals from 11 outings to finish equal-fourth in the competition’s goal-kicking ranks, and leading goal kicker for his side.
A stand-out performance for El Achkar this year while representing Vic Metro against the Allies, where he slotted three goals. He also booted a bag of six against the Sandringham Dragons this season.
