From fleeing civil war to AFL stardom: the resilient rise of Mabior Chol
In short: At just two years old, Mabior Chol’s family fled the South Sudanese civil war for Egypt. Years later, after moving to Australia, he would transform from a young refugee into one of the most prolific scorers of South Sudanese descent in AFL history.
Mabron Chol's journey to the Australian Football League is marked by significant transitions. Born in present-day South Sudan, his family sought refuge in Egypt to escape ongoing conflict before relocating to Brisbane, Australia, in 2005 when he was eight. While he initially focused on soccer and basketball, he discovered Australian rules football at age 12 while attending Yeronga State High School.
His athletic profile, characterized by immense vertical power, was evident early on. During the 2015 AFL draft combine, Chol recorded the top standing vertical jump score of 334 cm and placed second in the running vertical jump test at 357 cm. These physical traits, combined with his versatility as a forward and ruckman, helped him secure his place in the 2016 rookie draft with the Richmond Football Club.
Chol's professional career has been defined by resilience through delisting and trades. After being delisted by Richmond in 2018, he was immediately re-rookied in 2019, a year in which he helped the Richmond reserves win a VFL premiership. Following a free agency move to the Gold Coast Suns in 2021, he became their leading goalkicker in 2022. By May 2026, he stands as the player with the most goals scored in the AFL of South Sudanese descent. His recent move to the Hawthorn Football Club, finalized on the final day of the 2023 trade period, continues his pursuit of excellence in the league.
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