Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy prospect Khaled El Souki was split when Tim Membrey shot for goal after the siren of Collingwood's Wildcard Round clash with the Dogs.
On one hand, the Pies-mad kid who idolises Nick Daicos wanted his boyhood club to win. On the other, he wanted to see the Dogs progress given his ties and potential future at Whitten Oval.
“Honestly, the family wanted him to kick it but I was 50-50, it was a bit of a win-win,” El Souki told Zero Hanger.
“I've been a Collingwood man for ages, my Dad's the biggest Collingwood man you'll see.”
The Magpies have yet to interview El Souki, who is expected to fetch a bid in the second round, much to the ire of Khaled's family.
“Dad's not happy,” El Souki declared.
“My Dad really just wants me to get drafted. He doesn't really care where I'll go, I think he'll still go for Collingwood though.”
El Souki is tied to Western Bulldogs via his Lebanese heritage and holds his Muslim culture close to his heart.
One of nine siblings, his large family and an extended group of friends and Muslim community members followed him to each of his games this year giving him pride in his community.
“I always get over 25 people at my games going end to end with me when I move each quarter, they support me," El Souki said.
"It means so much the community getting around me and I want to do everyone proud. It's such a desire to represent the Muslim community, there hasn't been too many Muslims growing up playing the AFL so it's a big thing for me.
Seeing Bachar Houli Academy teammates Adam Sweid and Hussien El Achkar get selected at last year's AFL Draft opened El Souki's eyes to what was possible and continued to blaze a trail for Muslim kids.
Houli himself has been an important mentor for El Souki in recent years.
“Bachar Houli has had such a big influence for me through my whole juniors and it's been so good to have him in my life,” El Souki said.
“Bachar has helped a lot with the off field stuff, the religious stuff and he taught me hard work. He would set goals for me and make sure I would achieve them.
"I pray five times a day. Bach has set a good example of what Muslim athletes should be doing."
Through the lens of those closest with him, El Souki has always been destined to give the AFL a shake.
Those in the Point Cook community recall him as a 12-year-old winning the league best and fairest after kicking 60 goals from the midfield.
“I had a bit of a Dusty year,” El Souki laughed.
Regardless of the level he has played, he has always had power and innate ability to find the goals which he showed this year for Western Jets, kicking a whopping 40 majors, which included two bags of six – career highs at any level - and he also impressed in appearances for Vic Metro and Footscray.
His match for Footscray was particularly buoying, kicking three goals from 14 disposals in a late season outing against North Melbourne.
An ankle injury punctuated El Souki's year, yet he remains, in the eyes of many, a top three small forward in the crop.
In between the seven week injury, which was initially listed as a 10-12 weeker before his diligent recovery allowed him to return sooner, he averaged 18 disposals and three tackles and proved a menacing forward half threat.
"I would say he reminds me of Kozi Pickett. Small forward, hard to tackle, shrugs tackles and doesn't look rushed when he has ball in hand, can kick goals and also can go to centre bounce and he can do that and some," Western Jets talent lead Reuben William told Zero Hanger earlier this year.
"His centre bounce stuff is really good. He's very impactful. His running power has been the main area of improvement. He's become fitter in the off-season and he's always had a great attitude but that has gone to another level too.
"He's responding well if he's having a quiet patch in a quarter; he'll still find ways to impact which has been really good."
Throughout 2026, the Dogs' pursuit of Zak Butters has been intertwined with their ability to land El Souki.
Given the draft capital the Dogs gave effectively for Butters, their first two selections in the 2026 AFL Draft are Picks 42 and 53, which totals just 230 points.
Provided they are willing to go into a points deficit, the Dogs can match a bid from Pick 24 onwards which is right around the start of El Souki's range – and as a front-and-centre crumbing forward, the Newport local fits a clear list need for the club.
El Souki's athleticism and aerobic capacity have, however, been questioned throughout the year amid the flurry of impressive numbers.
He ran a 6:55 two kilometre time trial but has run one as quickly as 6:35 and declared his National Combine was “just a base” for what he can produce at the next level.
Instead, he points to his x-factor as a key differentiator.
“(Western Jets coach Christian Stagliano) told me ‘I want to be the best small forward in the draft and also pinch hit in the midfield just to show clubs what I could do' and I think I've done that pretty well,” El Souki said.
“If I start slowly I need to make sure I stay in the game because I reckon I can change the game in a quarter or so.
“I think my point-of-difference is breaking tackles, breaking lines and kicking goals and my foot skills. I think I worked on my forward craft a lot because it's natural to me but I haven't played a lot of midfield growing up."
Asked if he thinks he is the best small forward in the draft, El Souki, with a cheeky grin, said: “I think I've got a bit of confidence so I'll say yeah.”
El Souki's first brush with the big leagues was having a kick with fellow Western Jets graduates and now AFL-listed pair Massimo D'Ambrsio and Paul Curtis as a 12-year-old.
“I remember when I was 12 years old I was at Point Cook having a kick with Massimo because I played at the same junior club as him,” El Souki recalled.
“He probably doesn't even remember this but they've had a big impact. The president of Point Cook sorted me out with Mass and I enjoyed it a lot because I was still a young kid.”
If El Souki's footy journey follows his desired script, he'll be back around the western suburbs in years to come inspiring more young athletes, particularly Muslims, to pursue their sporting dreams.
