Here is an old draft profile of Bachar
Bachar HouliSmall forward/midfielderWestern Jets
12/5/1988
180cms and 84kgs
Bachar has attracted a lot of hype and media attention. A very early developer who has always seemed to have an early physical edge on players his own age and been on another level to most of them. Early on last year he looked like an absolute gun but some terrible injuries has stifled his development it seems. This year he has again battled some more minor injuries but he still struggles to string game after game together and it’s a pretty decent question mark of him going into the draft.
The stress fractures on his back last year was pretty horrendous and ankle injuries this year have not helped. At the carnival he has quite good after missing the 2005 one with injury after being selected.
His game is built around being very clever around goal. A superb kick for goal with all the tricks needed to crumb a pack and to evade a player to snap a goal. Great hands under pressure to gather the ball and feed it out. Physically developed body helps him keep his head over it and absorb the contact as well of course.
Kicking is very good around the ground. Not the longest kick but very accurate and technically sound on his left foot. Would not be surprised given full fitness in the AFL system if he gets another extra meters on it and can power through the ball a bit more with more conditioning and flexability. Does not quite seem to kick through the ball as much as he did last year and injuries might be a reason.
Leg speed is an issue. Looking at him this year he gets a lot of ball with a superb ability to know where to position himself. But in open play he struggles to break away from players and to chase them down. Seems a bit one paced and lacking acceleration. Not much of a jump either and is not overly strong in the air.
The perfect wet track specialist who is ideal at keeping his feet and wining contested ball and kicking a clever goal. Reminds me of Amon Buchanen in size and body shape and in playing style. Clever players who are good and use the ball well but wont win you a Stawell Gift.
If Bachar gets 2 or 3 pre seasons in and no injuries he should be able to get his game up to that sort of level as Amon and run as hard as him and be that effective.
His form after the U18s has been very good but again he has had to leave the field a number of times with minor injuries and consequently cant string together blocks of full games over the last 2 years. But has been moved into the midfield and been running to receive a lot more and starting to cover the ground like he did last year. Gathered heaps of football and started to show he can do the hard running required and grunt work.
Stats
2006
12 games - 22 possessions per game, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 20 goals in total
2005
7 games - 24ppg, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 13 goals in total.
Strengths
• Very good kick
• Clean ball handler
• Good around goals
• Excellent vision and reading of the game
• Ball magnet
Weaknesses
• Short
• Early developer and “solid body”
• Leg speed
• Injury concerns – will his body hold together?
• AFL position – can he run hard enough for long enough to be a midfielder or end up as a forward pocket only
Verdict
Bachar does not quite fit the profile for the modern game. Lacks that speed that clubs will want at his size. But he does have compensating factors such as skill and vision and a fantastic football brain. The small forward position for a specialized player is almost extinct these days and clubs require them to be able to play as another midfielder and rotate them through there. So it will come down to how clubs believe Houli will be able to stand up to the hard running he will need to be able to do. Will his body allow him to do the hard training and not break down and what levels his endurance is now and what can be worked on.
Injuries means he will have a fair bit of improvement in him if he can get through. He is physically developed but the hard running can be worked on and given increased fitness his agility and speed in the latter parts of game should improve with better conditioning. Its not how quick someone runs when they are fresh that’s as important as how quick they can run when they begin to tire and how often they can run close to there maximum before they are spent.
Prediction : 20 to 40
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