Adam Saad has played his best footy during the month of Ramadan
JON RALPH, Herald Sun
an hour ago
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JAKE Stringer and a Ramadan fast are two concepts most would believe are mutually exclusive.
Stringer is best known for wild hair cuts and controversial tattoos.
Yet if Adam Saad has known for a while his decision to return to Victoria last year was correct, the last month has vindicated his choice of Essendon.
Saad has just finished the holy month of Ramadan, fasting from dawn until sunset in celebration of his religion.
Remarkably, it has coincided with his best month of football at Essendon despite the sacrifices involved.
The pleasant surprise for Saad has been how his teammates and coaches have quickly jumped on board, eager to learn and desperate to help.
It is why Stringer has fasted with Saad for several days, and why his weights coaches are still at the club when he returns at 8pm for post-sunset weights sessions.
The 23-year-old feels at home at Essendon, with the club being rewarded as off-season recruits Saad, Devon Smith and Stringer all finally hit top form together.
Saad, who only left Gold Coast because he wanted to be closer to family and friends, quickly became aware he couldn’t have made a better decision.
“It has been unbelievable. Being back with my family and friends, and especially with them during the month of fasting, Ramadan,’’ Saad said.
“The toughest part of being on the Gold Coast was being away from them during that month. It is a month of worship and reflection and for me to be with my family is special.
“And to fast with them every single day is what I have wanted since I moved back to the Gold Coast.
“Essendon have been very supportive of me during this month. (Stringer) has done a few days (of fasting), he has jumped on board and everyone at the club has been really supportive.
“Jake just asks questions, he wants to learn, he’s been great. It does get challenging, the reasons why we do it makes it easier for us but Jake has been great through this month.”
Saad’s day during Ramadan begins at around 4.30am, eating breakfast and enough fluids to last through the entire day.
He gets to the club for meetings and training, then rests at home until breaking his fast with family around 5.15pm before another hour of rest.
It means his weights session is slotted in at around 7.30pm-8pm, and yet strength coach Paul Turk and fitness boss Justin Crow are often there lending support.
“Right from the start, the coaches and players have been really supportive and wanted to gain knowledge and have respected my religion.”
“I feel like I generally play my most consistent footy in this month. It’s such a big month and blessed month for Muslims, but I will try to be consistent all year.”
Bombers fans might have felt he lacked his characteristic bounce from half back early in the year, but Saad has always been typecast.
He says his roles on the likes of Eddie Betts, Luke Breust and Dan Butler this year are more important than attacking drive.
On Thursday night he will be tasked with stopping emerging Eagles small like Willie Rioli and Liam Ryan, attempting to beat them before he gets running up the field.
“I like the challenge of playing on the good small forward every single week and trying to beat them and attacking from there,” he said.
“People see my as a running defender but I am more of a shutdown player in some ways.
“I am playing a similar role this year (to the Gold Coast), I am running and carrying a bit more in the last four weeks, but I am just playing my role in the team.”
“It’s the same thing for me and the whole team. We prepare and watch vision and see how we can exploit their weaknesses and then we head over as a group excited for the challenge.”