As more than 100 potential AFL draftees are put through their paces this week, one player has literally travelled half the world to get there.
Ahmed Saad was born in Australia to Egyptian parents and spent his formative years in Egypt but only picked up a Sherrin for the first time five years ago, yet many are tipping he'll be a top 30 pick at next month's National Draft.
"I started when I was sixteen, I played soccer in Egypt for five or six years and wanted to play here, but I didn't really enjoy it and couldn't get to training any more," Saad told SBS.
"So yeah, I decided to play footy, because the ground was next door and the boys needed numbers for the team."
It was at inner-city Preston with the Northern Bullants, that Saad made himself a reputation among the nation's recruiters.
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He played all but one game and won the Fothergill-Round Medal for the best player in the VFL under the age of 23.
A devout Muslim, Saad juggles his football commitments with Ramadan, but says it's no hindrance to his football ability - he recorded the equal fastest time in the 20m sprint yesterday.
He says the prospect of moving interstate on draft day doesn't concern him.
"Not really, because I moved to Egpyt and back here and had to adapt to a change of lifestyle twice, so I think I can do it again," he said.
The draft is in Sydney on November 24.
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