Saad El-Hawli – Deck of DT 2025

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Why should I pick him?

Saad El-Hawli is a bit of a buzz name this pre-season. He’s the most popular basement priced player in the game with 45% ownership at the time of writing.

Why is this so?

As a mature-aged recruit, coaches are hoping he gets opportunity this season. The 23-year-old was picked up by the Bombers in the 2024 mid-season draft. He was coming off some elite VFL form for the Northern Bullants. In his eight games to start the 2024 season, El-Hawli was averaging 100.6 thanks to his 35.8 disposals and six marks per game. This was a big jump from the 60.9 average the season before.

As a versatile, athletic half-back/wing, he slotted into Essendon’s VFL team and racked up 25 disposals and four marks for 74 points into 27 disposals, eight marks and four goals for 121. He suffered a syndesmosis injury in the final quarter of that best on ground effort and had surgery that kept him out for a couple of months. He returned to score 93 and 103 the end the season.

Scoring shouldn’t be an issue based on what he was able to achieve in 2024.

This pre-season he’s been one of the hot names on the track. To quote the Herald Sun, “he was impressive in the lead up to Christmas, with his ball use arguably the best from the Bombers squad.” El-Hawli was also part of the stronger defensive unit in match simulation.

We get a free look at the Bombers as they are an opening round team. While we may Round 0 premiums, cash cows are worth that bit extra because they get that extra week of cash generation … and we get two weeks of seeing if they’re in the team. They also play on Friday night of round one. This means only two teams have played before finding out whether Saad is in the final 22 and avoids the sub vest (which is frustratingly back in 2025).

Why shouldn’t I pick him?

Job security.

Low hanging fruit, I know,  but it is the main reason we won’t be picking Saad El-Hawli. Flying in pre-season is one thing, nudging ahead of others is another. In Cal Twomey’s best 22 published in December, Saad doesn’t make the team … or the list of four emergencies. He does mention him in the copy that he is a a ‘real chance’ to grab the wing opposite Xavier Duursma. The Harrison Jones experiment and the unicorn  Nik Cox are the other contenders.

That wing role can also be up and down for scoring. There hasn’t been a heap of players who have scored consistently in that role. In saying that, we don’t need beast scores from Saad to be a good pick.

The Bombers added former Lion Jaxon Prior. Not sure if he gets a gig, but he would be a back-six player if in the 22. On the flipside, Dyson Heppell (18 games, 76 average) and Jake Kelly (20 games, 62 average) have retired and will open up spots.

El-Hawli’s versatility could hurt him for his role, namely … someone with explosive power and pin-point ball use sounds like he could even be a good sub!

A game or two as a sub could be an issue. As mentioned above, we get a bit of a free look … but with the round four bye, we’d be hoping to get those ‘four’ price increases at worst so we are getting a decent return. If he does get through – and is scoring well – the round 16 bye (the last of the multi-bye rounds) could be a winner as we will have the opportunity to milk the most cash he can.

Deck of DT Rating.

JACK

A perfect placeholder at the moment in D7 or D8. Saad El-Hawli has the ability to score well enough to have on field in that last spot down back if your structure dictates it. I’ll be watching carefully this pre-season and hoping he gets a shot at it. The praccy games against the Dogs and Cats will be his real audition plus we get the bonus look against the Suns in round zero.

Not a real consideration for Draft … but maybe a look in those deeper keeper leagues. How the Dons line up down back will evolve. Nic Martin possibly goes up the ground as he did at some stages last year. But what about the Dylan Shiel talk off half-back? There’s a bit to play out especially with some personnel change. You can look to stash him.

I’ll be track watching this pre-season to see if he can be one of our defensive cash cows. Let’s hope the Herald Sun’s best 23, which names him at half-back, is spot on.

Warnie

Co-captain of DT Talk since we started this thing in 2007. Best finish was 13th in 2009... that was a long time ago. Follow on Twitter: @WarnieDT