BACHAR Houli has declared young Richmond teammate Jack Ross is "built for AFL football", as the 19-year-old looms as a possible Grand Final replacement for the injured Jack Graham.
Graham was ruled out on Tuesday aheadof the decider against Greater Western Sydney, the dislocated right shoulder suffered last Friday night proving to be too big a hurdle to overcome.
Midfielder Ross has played seven games in his debut season, which was interrupted by a serious ankle syndesmosis injury that sidelined him for 11 weeks mid-year.
Averaging 17 disposals and three clearances a match in his AFL career to date, Ross, along with Kamdyn McIntosh, was held over from the VFL premiership win on Sunday in preparation for this weekend.
"I haven't really had a proper word with him yet, but he's built for AFL football. We saw him come in before he hurt his ankle, and he was a solid performer," Houli said.
"He accumulated possessions, and more importantly [showed] hardness at the football, that's what finals football is built upon. It's about contested ball, putting your body on the line and sacrificing for your teammates.
"He's very similar to Jacky Graham as well. Does he come in? Him and Jack are similar players, but I'm sure whoever comes in will be well prepared and well supported by the rest of the playing group."
With Graham now sidelined after playing a crucial part in the preliminary final win over Geelong, Houli enthusiastically threw his support behind the idea of giving all players from the flag-winning club premiership medals, rather than just the 22 who play the game itself.
"Oh yeah, absolutely, I'm all for it. A guy like Alex Rance – who I can't speak enough of and his contribution to the football club – I'm sure if we win, there'll be some sort of medal around his neck, from a player or coaching staff.
"To make 22 or 23 medals, let's make 44 or 45, everyone's happy. But then again, the VFL won a premiership, so is it fair they take home two medals?" Houli asked with a laugh.
Unluckiest Tiger? Kamdyn McIntosh was pulled out of the VFL Grand Final. Picture: AFL Photos
"We truly mean this, it's not about the 22 players. We've got something very significant with our football club, a photo which signifies us as a unified group. [We're] with our wider team members celebrating the (2017) cup and also the members, who we're very proud of as well, the Tiger army."
Houli was speaking at a training session for the Bachar Houli Academy, who is preparing to face off against young footballers from the AJAX football club, in a game bringing players from Islamic and Jewish backgrounds together.
The match will be played at the MCG on Sunday, the day after the Grand Final, and Houli is hoping to go two from two over the weekend.
Bachar Houli at training with teammates on Tuesday. Picture: AFL Photos
"Win or lose this week, Sunday will be a great day because these boys will get a chance to play on the MCG, what a privilege and honour that is," he said.
"This year … we've created the theme around unity and harmony and it's just a great opportunity for young men from different backgrounds to come together and enjoy the game that everyone loves in this country, being football.
"More importantly, the opportunity the MCC has provided us to use the ground post-Grand Final, that's something we're extremely humbled by and proud of."
A live stream of the Jolson/Houli Unity Cup between the Bachar Houli Academy and AJAX football club will be available here on Sunday morning, or via the Bachar Houli Foundation Facebook page.
