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Saw this in The Sunday Age today.. Very encouraging from a Port Melbourne perspective that metropolitan clubs are looking to Port Melbourne as a side that can give their up and comers a chance to play at State level. [quote] DEAN Rioli watched Bachar Houli wear his old No. 43 guernsey for the first time last weekend, and hopes to help another member of the Essendon draftee's family forge an AFL career. [img]http://www.realfooty.com.au/ffximage/2007/05/19/houli_adam_250,0.jpg[/img] Rioli, who is coaching Keilor Park in the Essendon District League, has been working with Houli's 20-year-old cousin Adam, and believes he has potential. Rioli's goal is to get Houli, a former soccer player, to make the Port Melbourne list and play VFL. Houli trained with Port Melbourne throughout the pre-season, having only recently quit his promising soccer career and begun playing AFL at Central Altona. Rioli said the 190-centimetre Houli, a half-back and onballer, had been in Keilor Park's best players each week and was learning quickly. "He's definitely got what it takes. He trained with Port Melbourne and because he's played so little football, the coach there told him to go away and learn the game a little bit," Rioli said. "Basically, my goal for him is to get him on Port Melbourne's senior list next year. Watching him play, I'm sure he can play VFL and that he's got what it takes to play AFL, too. He's very raw, but once he gets taught the game in a full-time environment … and he'll improve very quickly. He wants to learn and he's calling me all the time now, wanting to know more and more. Hopefully someone looks at a rookie list spot for him one day, because he's the best runner in our team and he definitely can play." Rioli has not spent much time at Windy Hill since retiring, but has watched Essendon's games and was impressed with Bachar Houli. "To see him play the other night, he's going to have a long career there and already he's obviously becoming an important person for his community."[/quote]