Mabior Chol Biography
Mabior Chol is a professional Australian rules footballer who currently plays as a key forward and relief ruckman for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League. Standing 200 centimetres tall, he has built a reputation for his athletic leap, marking ability, and goal-scoring presence after progressing through three AFL clubs.
Born in South Sudan and raised in Australia after a refugee journey, Chol represents one of the growing number of players of South Sudanese heritage making an impact at the elite level. His path from junior football in Brisbane to consistent senior performances offers a clear example of resilience, hard work, and the value of opportunity in Australian sport.
Mabior Chol Early Life
Mabior Chol was born on 29 January 1997 in what is now South Sudan during the Second Sudanese Civil War. His family fled the conflict when he was two years old, travelling by boat to Egypt in search of safety. Life in Egypt proved difficult, marked by limited opportunities and experiences of racism directed at darker-skinned people. One particularly frightening incident involved an attempt to kidnap one of his younger brothers on the street, after which the family kept a low profile for a period.
In 2005, when Chol was eight, the family resettled in Australia as refugees. They made their home in the Brisbane suburb of Acacia Ridge in Queensland. As the eldest of six children (with five younger siblings, including four brothers and two sisters), Chol took on early responsibilities while his parents worked demanding schedules, including night shifts, to support the household. His father, John, later drove a taxi. The family remained close-knit, and Chol has often spoken of the sacrifices his parents made to give their children a safer and more stable life.
Chol first played soccer and basketball. At around age 12, while attending Yeronga State High School, he was encouraged to try Australian rules football because the school team needed height in the ruck. He played in a state school final at the Gabba and quickly fell in love with the game. The following year he joined the Yeronga South Brisbane Devils junior club. Local volunteers often helped with transport to training and matches because his parents’ work commitments made it hard for him to get there independently. He has maintained a connection to the club, returning to help with clinics, and one of his younger brothers has also been involved there.
Mabior Chol State of Origin and Queensland Roots
Queensland is the place Chol considers home after his family’s resettlement. Acacia Ridge and the broader Brisbane area provided the foundation for his football development. He progressed through the Queensland junior pathways, playing for the Yeronga Devils and later for Aspley in the NEAFL. He was part of the Brisbane Lions Academy in 2014 and 2015, appeared for the Lions’ reserve side, and represented Queensland at under-18 level. In 2013 he played for the World 18 team at the national under-16 championships. In 2015 he featured for the Allies in an under-18 curtain-raiser to the AFL Grand Final at the MCG.
These experiences in Queensland’s development system prepared him for the AFL draft process and gave him a strong base in the state’s football community.
Mabior Chol Junior Football and Draft Path
Chol’s athletic traits stood out early. At the 2015 AFL Draft Combine he recorded the highest standing vertical jump (334 cm), placed second in the running vertical jump (357 cm), and ranked highly in relative jump and sprint tests. Queensland academy coach Adrian Fletcher praised his versatility and marking ability. Despite strong junior form, he was overlooked in the 2015 national draft. Richmond selected him with pick 30 in the 2016 rookie draft.
Mabior Chol Career
Time at Richmond
Chol made his AFL debut in round 23 of 2016 against Sydney at the SCG, becoming one of the early players of South Sudanese descent to reach senior level. Over six seasons with Richmond (2016–2021) he played 31 games and kicked 24 goals. Opportunities were limited behind established key forwards such as Jack Riewoldt and later Tom Lynch. He spent significant time in the VFL, developing as a tall forward and occasional ruck.
In 2018 he suffered a foot fracture that interrupted his season. Richmond delisted him at the end of that year but immediately re-selected him with pick 45 in the 2019 rookie draft. The 2019 season brought a career-best nine senior games and a VFL premiership with Richmond’s reserves. He contributed as a forward and relief ruck, including strong performances that earned coaches’ votes on occasion. In 2020 he played 11 games, including his first finals appearance. By the end of 2021 he sought more consistent senior opportunities and exercised free agency rights.
Gold Coast Suns Years
Chol joined the Gold Coast Suns as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2022 season. Moving closer to his family in Queensland proved beneficial. He played all 22 games that year and kicked 44 goals, earning the club’s leading goalkicker award. A five-goal haul in round 20 against West Coast highlighted his form. He reached his 50th AFL game during the season.
In 2023 injuries and competition for positions restricted him to eight senior games and 10 goals. He still contributed strongly in the VFL and was part of Gold Coast’s VFL premiership-winning side that year. At the end of the season he requested a trade.
Hawthorn and Established Role
On the final day of the 2023 trade period, Chol moved to Hawthorn. He signed a multi-year deal and quickly became an important part of the forward line under coach Sam Mitchell. In 2024 he played 23 games and kicked 37 goals to claim Hawthorn’s leading goalkicker award in his first season with the club. His aerial ability, pressure inside 50, and work rate earned him strong support from fans, who regularly chant his name.
He has continued as a key forward and relief ruck option in subsequent seasons, adding further games and goals. Across his career to the end of the 2026 season he has played 128 AFL games and kicked 188 goals: 31 games and 24 goals at Richmond, 30 games and 54 goals at Gold Coast, and 67 games and 110 goals at Hawthorn. He holds the record for most goals by an AFL player of South Sudanese descent.
Chol’s playing style features a powerful vertical leap, clean hands, and the ability to cover ground effectively for a tall player. He has shown versatility across forward and ruck roles and has improved his consistency and physical strength over time.
Mabior Chol Awards and Achievements
Chol’s individual and team honours include Gold Coast leading goalkicker in 2022 and Hawthorn leading goalkicker in 2024. He is a two-time VFL premiership player (Richmond reserves in 2019 and Gold Coast in 2023). Additional team achievements include VFL minor premierships with Richmond in 2018 and 2019 and with Gold Coast in 2023, plus Hawthorn’s McClelland Trophy in 2024. He has received Brownlow Medal votes across his career and has earned Mark of the Year nominations for spectacular marks.
Mabior Chol Personal Life
Family remains central to Chol. He frequently credits his parents’ sacrifices and the support of his siblings for his opportunities. The family stayed together through the challenges of resettlement, and Chol has described loyalty and staying united as important values. He has spoken about the contrast between the pressures of AFL finals and the far greater hardships his parents faced.
Chol is an ambassador for The Growth Project, an organisation that supports community engagement and positive pathways for young people of Sudanese heritage in Melbourne. He has maintained links with his junior club in Brisbane and values giving back to the communities that helped him.
In personal style he has experimented with his appearance, including a blond streak in his hair during his Richmond years that echoed the club’s colours, and later a shaved head at Gold Coast in tribute to Gary Ablett Jr. Nicknames such as “The Chols Royce,” “Mabsy,” and others reflect his calm demeanour and popularity among teammates and supporters.
He has expressed gratitude for the chance to live out a childhood dream in the AFL and continues to prioritise effort and intent even when form fluctuates.
Conclusion
Mabior Chol’s story moves from a childhood shaped by conflict and displacement to a professional career built on athletic talent, persistence through limited opportunities, and eventual consistent contribution at the highest level. From Queensland junior ranks to three AFL clubs, he has shown that steady development and strong family foundations can lead to lasting success. As a key forward at Hawthorn and a visible figure of South Sudanese Australian achievement in the game, he continues to add to his record while remaining connected to his roots and community.
FAQs
What is Mabior Chol’s date of birth and place of birth?
Mabior Chol was born on 29 January 1997 in present-day South Sudan.
Which AFL clubs has Mabior Chol played for?
He has played for Richmond (2016–2021), Gold Coast Suns (2022–2023), and Hawthorn (2024–present).
How many AFL games and goals has Mabior Chol recorded?
As of the end of the 2026 season he has played 128 games and kicked 188 goals.
What awards has Mabior Chol won?
He was Gold Coast’s leading goalkicker in 2022 and Hawthorn’s leading goalkicker in 2024. He is also a two-time VFL premiership player.
Where did Mabior Chol grow up after leaving South Sudan?
His family lived in Egypt for several years before resettling in the Brisbane suburb of Acacia Ridge, Queensland, in 2005.
What position does Mabior Chol play?
He primarily plays as a key forward and also provides relief ruck support.
Is Mabior Chol involved in community work?
Yes, he serves as an ambassador for The Growth Project, which supports young people of Sudanese heritage.