BACHAR Houli left the AFL Draft Camp this month with an enhanced feeling about his chances of realising his football dream next year.
The 18-year-old from the Western Jets was one of 75 of the best young players in the land selected to strut their stuff at the Australian Institute of Sport between 3-6 October.
The camp, which is attended by members of each AFL club, has been a traditional form guide to the national draft, which will be held on 25 November.
For Houli, the camp was one of the final steps in a journey which began in the Western Region Football League with Spotswood and has continued at the Jets since the under 16s.
At first he was apprehensive about the stigma attached to the draft camp and potential rewards in would bring if he performed well.
But he eased into the task, successfully displaying his football skills and confident character.
Everyone was nervous, and it was just about getting through the first day," he said.
The recruiting officers were just telling us to relax and just be ourselves. That's what we needed.
"They told us it was about enjoying the experience.
"If you've trained hard enough and well enough, all the test results will look after themselves."
Houli was in elite company at the camp, competing alongside players touted as being recruited to AFL clubs with the top few selections.
"I went there thinking a lot of people were arrogant, but you can't judge a person until you meet them properly," he said.
"There were players there that will probably go in the top 10 and you would think they had a high status, but it wasn't that at all.
"It was good to just have a chat to them and get to know them.
"We were all there for the same reason and striving for the same goal, so all of your common interests relate."
Over four days of physical and psychological testing, Houli achieved some of the best results of all of the camp attendees.
He was fourth in the beep test - a test of endurance - sixth in the three kilometre run and in the top 15 for the 20m sprint.
Houli was also pleased with his performance in the interview portion of the draft camp, with up to half of the AFL clubs requesting interviews with him.
While most were from Victoria, he also had talks with both the last two AFL premiership teams, West Coast and Sydney.
Since he has been back, Houli has continued to be contacted by clubs, raising his hopes of being recruited next month.
"It just keeps your confidence up when clubs are contacting you and showing that they're interested," he said.
"I'm confident that I can get drafted. I've done everything possible that I can do."
"Regardless of whether or not I get drafted, I can look back and say I've given everything I had.
Last Modified on 06/03/2008 21:59