After winning Richmond’s VFL best and fairest Mutaz El Nour is ready for a call-up if an AFL club comes knocking come draft time.
The 24-year-old intercept defender had a break-out season with the Tigers, sharing the club’s top honour with Lachlan Wilson.
El Nour began his footballing life at St Albans in the under-17s and Hillside while progressing to the VFL program with Northern Bullants and now Richmond.
It’s not inconceivable that El Nour could be a mature-age rookie or a train-on player at AFL level in 2026.
“I definitely do think that I am up to AFL standard and feel like I can play AFL football,” he said.
“So having my name thrown around for the past couple of years has been very nice to hear and showing that I’ve actually been putting in the work and playing some good football.
“So hopefully that opportunity does arise for me in the near future.”
El Nour said he didn’t expect to poll so well in Richmond’s Guinane Medal count.
“I’m very, very happy with it,” he said.
“I did not think it was going to happen, but we’re here today, so I’m very happy.
“Honestly, did not think I was going to be a chance whatsoever, so it was a casual night. Literally just rolled in thinking it was just going to be a normal night for me, but obviously that all changed.
“I’ve been putting a lot of work in the past couple of years. So to get that achievement, not many people get to actually achieve that.”
El Nour impressed this season as vice-captain with his intercept marking and also made the VFL team of the year.
“I think once again, just that reward for effort,” he said.
“That’s a goal of mine that I’ve had since I was a young kid playing football.”
El Nour even found time to play two games at Deer Park this season.
“I played a handful of games there as a junior,” he said.
“It was pretty tough and hard for me to leave Caroline Springs, which is a very good club also, but I think going back and seeing the way that the club has progressed over the few years since I was young.
“Then getting to actually play with some of the senior boys who’ve been playing there since I was playing under 14s was pretty surreal.”
El Nour said Caroline Springs played a huge role in his footy development.
“Especially Terry (Azzopardi) over there, the president, and also Brian Lake, who’s a senior coach there, they’ve helped me a lot when I was there as a junior,” he said.
“They gave me my first senior game. It was surreal to me at that point. They’ve played a massive part and I’m forever in debt with them also.”
El Nour grew up in Derrimut, just a hefty torpedo punt from Deer Park.
“That’s why I played there and all my schoolmates played there and then moved over to Hillside, which is right next to Caroline Springs,” he said.
“Growing up I relied on my teammates and friends to actually take me to training and things like that. So that was the only reason why I did end up moving clubs was for that reason.”
El Nour said his parents “weren’t the biggest of football” when he first started, but had been well and truly swayed.
“My parents worked full time trying to put food on the table for seven kids,” he said.
“So it was pretty hard for them to take me to training and take me to games. They thought it (footy) was a bit rough, but now they’re my biggest supporters. They tune into every game that I play. Luckily, the games are live streamed now in the VFL, so they watch every single game.”
