“I FELT like a failure.”
From being overlooked in three national drafts, Adam Saad has now played 200 AFL games, is an All-Australian defender and - after this week - will have his name on the locker at IKON Park.
Saad will tick off a century of games in the Navy Blue this Saturday, aptly in the Carlton’s Cultural Heritage Series clash with North Melbourne, in another significant achievement for the man who was recruited from Coburg.
The journey of Saad’s career has been oft-told, particularly in the lead-up to his 200th game in Gather Round earlier this year - but speaking to Channel 7’s Hamish McLachlan in the Unfiltered series, Saad opened up on the doubt, frustration and inner belief that accompanied that pathway to the elite level.
For it was in the AFL where Saad always envisaged himself.
“I didn’t have a plan B, I didn’t have any money in m account. I used to work at Coles and when you’re 18 or 19 chasing your dream, there are some tough moments in that period," Saad said.
“I don’t do this just for me, I do this for my family - I felt like a bit of a failure. I worked this hard, and we know as Muslims that everything happens for a reason… but it felt a bit unfair at the time.
“Coming through the pathways, recruiters said that I maybe didn’t work hard enough and my fitness was an issue - running a beep test was daunting at that time. They doubted me, [I believed them] to an extent. You believe that maybe you can’t run or that this wasn’t for me.
“But I always had this belief in my ability and my skills and what I could do.”
That self-drive and determination saw Saad ultimately get that chance, on the back of a best-and-fairest season at Coburg where he moved to the half-back line. For the boy from Brunswick, getting selected at pick No.25 in the rookie draft was met with jubilation - before reality hit soon after.
In an instant, the family man’s life had turned on its head.
“The rookie draft was pretty special - it was the moment I was waiting for my whole life. It updated, I saw my name and just thought ‘nah, this is wrong’.
“I’m smiling, Dad was sleeping so I ran into his room, everyone’s happy and pumped for me… and then reality hit two hours later. I had all my cousins coming over, everyone is smiling and happy - but then you’ve got to pack and you’re out the next day.
“It’s bittersweet. God gave me my dream, but has taken away something that’s so important to me.”
That lure of home ultimately brought Saad back to Melbourne after three impressive seasons with Gold Coast. Another three years at the Bombers soon followed, before - in Saad’s own words - he needed “a fresh start”.
That came at Carlton.
With a link to the Club through neighbour Ang Christou, it’s clear that the short trip down Sydney Road has been agreeable to the fan favourite — career-best form has gone with it, and now this weekend he’ll play 100 games at the one club for the first time.
That’s plenty to woof about.
“I knew what it was… Ang suggested to pass it on to me. That first kick, there was a big loud ‘woof’ - I was like ‘oh, okay’. Every time I got a kick after that, everyone was woofing.
“It’s amazing, nobody else has anything like it. Even some opposition players, they come up to me going ‘that’s unreal’. That’s special.”
Saad has been a highly dependable and reliable member of the Blues’ defensive group ever since his first game in Round 1, 2021. Some 99 games later, he relishes that mantle of being a trustworthy teammate.
Dependable, reliable, trustworthy - yes. But never predictable.
Because despite being 30 years of age now, Saad still plays with the love of the game and the verve of the kid from the inner north who regused
“Unpredictable is good, isn’t it?
“Ash Hansen always says to have a plan when you get the footy… but I don’t have a plan. It’s just give me the footy and I’ll make it up. I love instinct.
“If someone is running at me and I see a target there, I’ll just hit it - or back myself to take them on. Tuck the ball under the arm and just go - fans love it!”
