The man himself was there to hand over the trophy to the winners.
He says he hopes his involvement with Islamic youths has a lasting and positive impact, not just for the participants, but also for the wider community.
On a soccer field in western Sydney, temporary Australian Rules Football goalposts mark the fields.
Two hundred students from Islamic schools are chasing footballs.
On his day off from Richmond training, Bachar Houli has travelled to meet them.
He hopes that, although it is a day off school for the kids, it is not a day off learning.
"If we can create good leadership within these young boys, it goes a long way to building the community as a much stronger place to be around."
It is no token effort from a player who once struggled with the decision to attend the A-F-L draft camp during Ramadan and remains a devout Muslim.
He senses the group of young men needs as many positive role models as possible.
"When I look at the Indigenous community, I envy the way they go about things, and I'm trying to emulate their programs. And they've got fantastic talent -- it's great to see -- and that's what I see in my community as well, fantastic talent. But what we're trying to educate to these young boys is it's all about hard work as well. Natural talent doesn't get you there."
The Cup is about taking part, not winning, but all the schools involved were playing for keeps.
Giants midfielder Stephen Coniglio was also on hand to offer advice.
He says the AFL is committed to making sure its game is a game for everybody.
"I mean, when you look across the AFL, I think there's about two per cent on player rosters that are from multicultural backgrounds. And we're trying to make some big steps in that area, and western Sydney is a key area with that."
Teacher Andrew Rutherford says he has no doubt the Bachar Houli Cup has a very real impact.
"A lot of the time, we teachers at school notice that boys just lack that self-confidence and self-belief to actually have a go, and, sometimes, the perseverence to really work hard towards a goal, and I think he, along with a few others as well, is just a shining light."
It starts with discipline, and there were prayers before the winners received their medals -- Unity Grammar College, with a trophy for its efforts and maybe some lessons for life.
