Buku Khamis (born 24 March 2000) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League.[1]

Buku Khamis
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-03-24) 24 March 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Sudan
Original team(s) St Albans/Maribyrnong College/Western Jets
Draft Category B Rookie selection 2018
Debut 9 May 2021, Western Bulldogs vs. Carlton, at Docklands Stadium
Height 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Position(s) Key Forward
Club information
Current club Western Bulldogs
Number 24
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2019– Western Bulldogs 20 (7)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 14, 2024.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

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Khamis was born in current day South Sudan, and in 2006 at the age of six he and his family moved to Australia as refugees. After watching a game at the MCG during his final year of Primary School in 2012, he joined a local team St Albans, playing the game for the first time. He made a mark at the club and in 2016 was selected to play for Western Jets in the Under 19 NAB League.[2][3]

Career

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Although he was overlooked during the 2018 AFL draft, he was selected shortly after as a Category B rookie by the Bulldogs.[4]

After concerns about fitness led to him being seen as a "two million to one chance to debut" by coach Luke Beveridge. In 2021 he would finally make his debut in the Bulldogs Round 8 win against Carlton.[5]

Due to only playing ten games since joining the club, including only one in 2023, there were calls for Khamis to leave the club to find more game time. Although he would instead sign a new one-year contract in October 2023.[6]

Statistics

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Statistics are correct to the end of round 3, 2024.[7]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2021 Western Bulldogs 24 1 0 0 7 4 11 1 1 0.0 0.0 7.0 4.0 11.0 1.0 1.0
2022 Western Bulldogs 24 8 6 6 49 31 80 29 10 0.7 0.7 6.1 3.8 10.0 3.6 1.2
2023 Western Bulldogs 24 1 0 0 3 3 6 1 1 0.0 0.0 3.0 3.0 6.0 1.0 1.0
2024 Western Bulldogs 24 3 1 1 26 11 37 17 3 0.3 0.3 8.6 3.6 12.3 5.6 1.0
Career 13 7 7 85 49 134 48 16 0.4 0.4 5.0 2.8 7.8 2.8 2.2

References

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  1. ^ "Western Bulldogs - Buku Khamis". Western Bulldogs. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  2. ^ Dinham, Abby (2 May 2017). "From South Sudanese refugee to the 2018 AFL draft: Buku Khamis is making his mark". SBS World News. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  3. ^ Daniel Cherny (11 September 2016). "AFL adds African players to academy to fast-track development". The Age. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  4. ^ "BUKU BECOMES A BULLDOG ROOKIE". EDFL. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  5. ^ John, Nathan (7 May 2021). "How a Dogs Defender reached his "Two Million to One" Debut". 1116 SEN. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  6. ^ ""IT'S A STRANGE DECISION": FORMER DOGS STAR QUESTIONS KHAMIS' CONTRACT CALL". SEN. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  7. ^ "buku Khamis". AFLTables. Retrieved 13 May 2021.


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