Ahmed Saad

Ahmed Saad (; born 9 October 1989) is an Australian rules footballer who formerly played for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was delisted in 2013 after receiving an 18-month suspension for testing positive to a banned substance, but was redrafted by the Saints as a rookie at the end of 2014.

Early career Saad was born to Egyptian parents in Australia. At age 8 his family moved to Egypt where he played representative soccer as a striker or winger. attending secondary school in Roxburgh Park, Victoria. He played Australian rules football for the first time at age 16, filling in to make up the numbers for his school before joining the local Roxburgh Park Football Club.

Saad joined the Northern Bullants in the Victorian Football League in 2009 in unusual circumstances. He had not received a formal invitation to join the club but turned up unannounced (inspired by his mother's words of wisdom and encouragement) to an early preseason training session and was permitted to participate. In round 7, 2012, his goal against Carlton and in Round 21, his goal against Geelong were both nominated for Goal of the Year.

Saad received an 18-month ban after testing positive to a banned substance. Saad consumed an energy drink "Before Battle" which contained the banned stimulant methylsynephrine.

Saad was delisted by St Kilda as a result of the investigation at the end of the 2013 season. He was redrafted as a rookie by St Kilda in the 2015 Rookie Draft. He played four games for St Kilda during the 2015 season and was delisted again in October 2015.

Post-AFL career Saad returned to the VFL in 2016, and joined stand-alone club Coburg. He kicked 49 goals in the 2016 season to lead the VFL and win the Frosty Miller Medal. He was also named Full Forward in the VFL team of the year.

Personal life Saad graduated from Roxburgh College in 2007. He is the first player of Egyptian background and the third practising Muslim (after Sedat Sir and Bachar Houli) to be on the AFL playing list. In 2012 he was nominated as one of the AFL's multicultural ambassadors.