How AFL star Adam Saad maintains peak performance during Ramadan

Carlton defender Adam Saad is a devout Muslim, and this year's pre-season is different for him than in previous years. Saad is no stranger to playing football during Ramadan, but 2025 will be the first time he faces a season opener during the Islamic holy month.

During Ramadan, most observant Muslims abstain from food and drink between dawn and sunset. "Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam, so it's a very special month and a big month of reflection," Saad said in an interview with ABC Sport ahead of Carlton's Round One match against Richmond. He added, "It's a month of worship, getting closer to God, connecting with God, and also a month of giving, charity, and doing good deeds."

But Saad also admitted that such a drastic change in daily routine can be challenging, especially with a new season about to begin. "I'll communicate with the club to adjust my training schedule and load. We've put a plan in place to make sure I get enough food, drinks, water, and electrolytes, etc., so that not only gets me through the day, but also keeps me performing well. But it can be challenging at times," he said.

Muslim athletes around the world are finding ways to maintain peak physical condition during Ramadan. For example, English Premier League player Mohamed Salah contributed six goals during the 2024 fast, and has already scored two goals during this year's Ramadan. Usman Khawaja of the Australian men's cricket team scored his then-highest ODI score during Ramadan in 2016. Saad himself had a game-high 29 disposals in Round Two against Geelong during Ramadan in 2023.

Since 2024, the Australian A-League has added in-game breaks to allow players observing the fast to break their fast. For Saad, the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) and subsequent morning prayer are key to successfully completing training or matches. Saad said, "This morning, I woke up at 4:30, had Weet-Bix, toast, and some dates, and drank plenty of water and Gatorade. You need to cram all that food into your stomach within an hour. Obviously, we also do a lot of praying. As Muslims, we pray five times a day, and during Ramadan, we do even more extra prayers. I go to the mosque and attend congregational prayers at around six o'clock, and then head to the club."

Once at the club, it's a normal day of training. Saad said, "We just finished an 8km training session, I did weights, and then did on-field training." Training ends before 3pm, nearly five hours before Saad can break his fast. After dinner (known as iftar), the day's activities end with congregational prayers at the mosque.

As one of the few Muslim players in the Australian Football League (AFL), Saad is well aware of the difficulties players from different cultural backgrounds face in entering the league. "I missed out on three drafts, and I think a lot of Muslim kids might feel the same way, maybe not succeeding the first time," Saad said. Earlier this year, the AFL revealed that across all levels of Australian football, 20% of participants have parents born outside of Australia, compared to 48.2% of the general population.

The AFL has been actively encouraging the participation of multicultural communities. Recently, the league announced that it will add a Cultural Heritage Series to the 2025 season, which will replace the previous Multicultural Round. The Adam Saad Pathways program, launched in 2018, aims to provide multicultural youth with more opportunities to develop careers in football. Saad said, "I feel like we have the ability to really give back to the community, inspire young people, and have a positive impact within the community. We are running six programs, teaching them some life habits, developing good character off the field, as well as on-field football skill development. It's a combination of leadership and athleticism, and it provides them with a pathway, not only hopefully to get drafted, but also to develop good life habits and always be proud of who they are."

For young Muslim players who dream of making their mark in the AFL or AFLW, Saad's message is simple: "Keep chasing your dreams, because God has a plan for us, and for me, everything worked out."