By Lance Jenkinson
Western Jets defender Buku Khamis endured a lengthy draft period, but he finally got his wish of landing on an AFL list.
The 18-year-old was hoping to be selected in the main AFL draft and was tipped to do so by the experts, but was overlooked there before eventually being listed by the Western Bulldogs as a pre-selected rookie.
Khamis, who was born in South Sudan and arrived in Australia in 2006, was glad to land at the Bulldogs, a club that had worked with him as part of its Next Generation Academy.
“I was hoping to get picked up in the actual draft, but at the end of the day I’m just happy because I’m on an AFL list at the Western Bulldogs,” Khamis said.
“I’m stoked to be officially a part of the Western Bulldogs. I’m just so grateful to be at a great club.”
Khamis was expected to attract a bid by another AFL club in the draft, but surprisingly one never came.
That allowed the Bulldogs to pre-select him ahead of the rookie draft – something of a steal for a player who excelled for Vic Metro at the under-18 national championships.
He earned All Australian honours at the championships, displaying incredible athleticism, tremendous reading of the play, strong intercept marking and clean use of the ball by foot.
Khamis will relish the chance to grow with the young Bulldogs’ list under coach Luke Beveridge.
Having already been involved at the kennel as part of the Next Generation Academy, he expects the transition to the big league to be a smooth one.
“I think it will help make the transition easier because I already know what it’s like and what to expect and how the people are there,” he said.
“It is very exciting to go to a club where they have very young players.
“I think we can relate to each other.
“We had a function with the new draftees and a few staff members … the message was to just come in and enjoy it, work hard and have fun, as well.”
Khamis is grateful to all the people who offered guidance throughout his junior career, particularly former Jets coach Torin Baker.
Baker was not only his coach at the Jets, but worked closely with him at Maribyrnong College.
“Having him work at my school helped shape the player I developed into,” Khamis said. “He’s helped me out with my craft and the Jets coaches at training have been really good in helping me become a better player.”
After starting his life overseas, Khamis found out about Australian rules football when he arrived as a six year old. He ambition when he first played, at St Albans Football Club, was to simply have fun.
“They had a huge impact,” Khamis said. “It’s where the journey began, I started my junior footy there and they’ve been really good to me. It was all about having fun and enjoying my footy at that stage.”
Khamis’s family has also developed a love for Australian rules.
“Over the years they’ve embraced it,” Khamis said. “They were stoked for me that I was finally on an AFL list and that I’m staying in Melbourne.”
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