Mabior Chol is a South Sudanese-born Australian rules footballer who plays as a key forward for Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Born on January 29, 1997, Chol was born in what is now South Sudan before his family fled the civil war and eventually settled in Australia. He has built a professional career across Richmond, Gold Coast and Hawthorn, becoming one of the notable players of South Sudanese heritage in Australian football.
Chol’s journey to the AFL began after his family arrived in Brisbane when he was eight years old. He initially played soccer and basketball before taking up Australian rules football at Yeronga State High School at age 12. His athletic ability and versatility quickly became apparent, leading him into Queensland’s junior development system and eventually to the AFL draft.
Since making his AFL debut for Richmond in 2016, Mabior Chol has developed from a promising rookie into an established key forward. He has also become known for his unusual combination of height, agility and athleticism, as well as for his community connection and advocacy. By 2026, he was playing a significant role for Hawthorn while continuing to attract attention both for his football performances and for his experiences as a South Sudanese-Australian player.
Mabior Chol Early Life
Mabior Chol was born on January 29, 1997, in present-day South Sudan during a period of civil conflict. When he was very young, his family fled the country and moved to Egypt in search of safety. Chol has explained that he was only about two years old when the family left South Sudan, meaning that most of his memories of that period come from what his parents later told him about their experiences.
In 2005, Chol and his family moved from Egypt to Australia, settling in Acacia Ridge in Brisbane. The move gave him the opportunity to grow up in Australia and eventually pursue sport at a high level. Chol has repeatedly credited his parents and their sacrifices for helping him and his siblings build a different life after the family was forced to leave South Sudan.
Before discovering Australian rules football, Chol played soccer and basketball. At age 12, he joined the Australian rules football team at Yeronga State High School and quickly developed an interest in the sport. He later joined the Yeronga South Brisbane Devils and entered the Queensland development pathway, eventually becoming part of the Brisbane Lions Academy.
Mabior Chol Education
Mabior Chol attended Yeronga State High School in Brisbane, Queensland, where Australian rules football became an important part of his development. His school football performances helped him progress into representative and junior pathways, eventually putting him on the radar of AFL recruiters.
While continuing his education, Chol developed through Queensland’s junior football system. He played for the Brisbane Lions Academy during 2014 and 2015 and also represented other junior and reserve teams, including Aspley and the Lions’ reserve side in the NEAFL. His development combined school football with increasingly advanced representative competition.
Chol’s education in football became particularly important in the years leading to the AFL draft. In 2015, he performed strongly at the AFL draft combine, recording the best standing vertical jump at 334 centimetres and finishing highly in other athletic tests. His performances demonstrated the physical qualities that would eventually become important to his professional career.
Mabior Chol Career
Mabior Chol entered the AFL system through Richmond, which selected him with pick 30 in the 2016 rookie draft. He made his AFL debut in round 23 of the 2016 season against Sydney. His early Richmond career was not straightforward, and he spent considerable time developing in the club’s reserves while being used in different roles, including key forward, ruck and defence.
After being delisted by Richmond in 2018, Chol was immediately re-rookied by the club in the 2019 rookie draft. He subsequently produced some of his strongest football at VFL level and helped Richmond’s reserves win the 2019 VFL premiership. That season he also played nine AFL matches and finished as the Richmond VFL team’s equal-leading goalkicker with 21 goals in 12 games.
In October 2021, Chol left Richmond as a free agent and signed with the Gold Coast Suns on a four-year deal. The move took him back to Queensland, where he had grown up and first developed as a footballer. His first season with the Suns in 2022 became a major breakthrough, as he kicked 44 goals and finished as Gold Coast’s leading goalkicker. He also kicked a career-best five goals against West Coast that season.
Chol later moved to Hawthorn after requesting a trade away from Gold Coast at the end of the 2023 season. His first season with the Hawks was highly productive, and he finished 2024 as Hawthorn’s leading goalkicker. He continued to perform strongly in 2025, kicking 42 goals from 25 games, including a career-high five goals against North Melbourne.
By 2026, Chol had become an established Hawthorn forward and had passed the 100-game milestone in his AFL career. He continued producing goals and contributing as a tall forward who can also provide relief in the ruck. In August 2026, AFL Queensland reported that he recorded a career-high 20 disposals in his 123rd AFL game, highlighting another aspect of his development as a player.
Mabior Chol Reports Racist Abuse on Social Media in June 2026
Mabior Chol attracted significant public attention in June 2026 after publicly sharing racist abuse he had received through Instagram following Hawthorn’s six-point loss to the Western Bulldogs. Chol had kicked an equal game-high three goals in the match before posting a screenshot of the abusive messages on his Instagram story.
The incident prompted the AFL and Hawthorn Football Club to publicly condemn the messages. The AFL Integrity Unit and Hawthorn confirmed that they were working together to investigate the incident, while AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and Hawthorn chief executive Ash Klein both expressed support for Chol and condemned racism in the sport and wider community.
The incident also renewed discussion about online abuse directed at AFL players from multicultural and Indigenous backgrounds. Chol had previously experienced racist abuse during his AFL career, including while playing for Gold Coast in 2022. In September 2026, Hawthorn co-captain Jai Newcombe again referred to the earlier incident while discussing the broader problem of online abuse directed at AFL players.
Mabior Chol Personal Life
Mabior Chol has spoken publicly about the importance of his family and the sacrifices his parents made after leaving South Sudan. He has described his family’s journey from South Sudan to Egypt and then Australia as an important part of his identity and has credited his parents with creating the opportunity for him and his siblings to pursue their goals.
Outside football, Chol has maintained a connection with the South Sudanese and wider multicultural community in Australia. He has served as an ambassador for The Growth Project, an organisation focused on community engagement and leadership among young Melburnians of Sudanese heritage. His community involvement has formed an important part of his public identity beyond his AFL career.
Information about Chol’s current romantic relationship, marriage and children is not consistently documented by reliable primary sources. Rather than presenting unverified claims about a wife or partner as fact, his publicly documented personal story is best understood through his family background, community involvement and long-running connection to football.
Mabior Chol Age, Religion, Nationality, Tribe, Height and Physical Appearance
Mabior Chol was born on January 29, 1997, making him 29 years old as of September 2026. He was born in present-day South Sudan and later moved to Australia with his family, where he grew up in Brisbane. He is commonly described as a South Sudanese-born Australian or Sudanese-Australian footballer.
Chol’s religious affiliation has not been reliably documented in the major sources used for his biography. His South Sudanese heritage is well documented, but a specific tribe should not be assigned without a reliable source confirming it.
Mabior Chol stands 200 centimetres (6 feet 7 inches) tall and plays primarily as a key forward, with the ability to provide relief in the ruck. His height is complemented by notable agility, athleticism and jumping ability. His physical qualities were already evident during the 2015 AFL draft combine, where he recorded the best standing vertical jump.
Mabior Chol Social Media Presence
Mabior Chol maintains a public social-media presence connected to his professional football career. His Instagram handle is @mabiorchol, an account that has been used to share football-related content as well as personal updates. Hawthorn and the AFL have also referenced his Instagram activity in connection with his public response to the racist abuse he received in 2026.
His social-media platforms provide a direct connection between Chol and supporters and have become another way for him to discuss his football career and aspects of his life away from matches. His Instagram presence has also demonstrated how AFL players can use their own platforms to respond directly to issues affecting them.
Mabior Chol Net Worth
Mabior Chol’s exact net worth has not been publicly verified. As an established AFL player with more than 100 senior games, multiple club contracts and several years of professional football, his principal income is expected to come from his playing career, along with any sponsorship, appearance or commercial opportunities associated with his public profile.
A precise financial estimate is difficult because AFL player contracts and personal assets are not fully disclosed publicly. Based on his length of service in the AFL, current professional status and career progression, an unofficial 2026 estimate of approximately A$1 million to A$3 million could be used as a broad range for his net worth. This is an analytical estimate, not a confirmed figure, and should not be treated as an audited valuation.
Chol’s financial position has likely developed alongside his progression from a rookie at Richmond to an established AFL player at Hawthorn. His career includes multiple contracts, a move to Gold Coast as a free agent and continued employment with Hawthorn. His current contract status has been listed as running through the 2027 season, although the exact financial terms are not publicly established in the sources used here.
Mabior Chol Legacy
Mabior Chol’s emerging legacy extends beyond his statistics as an AFL forward. His journey from being born during the South Sudanese civil conflict, fleeing with his family to Egypt and eventually settling in Brisbane before reaching the AFL provides an important example of the different pathways through which professional athletes can emerge.
His football career has also contributed to the growing representation of South Sudanese heritage in Australian rules football. Chol became one of the players from the South Sudanese community to establish a sustained AFL career, while his performances at Richmond, Gold Coast and Hawthorn have helped make his story familiar to football audiences across Australia.
Another important part of Chol’s public legacy is his connection with community work and his willingness to speak publicly about racism. His involvement with The Growth Project and his decision to call out racist abuse on social media in 2026 have placed his football career alongside broader conversations about multicultural representation, inclusion and the treatment of athletes online.
Conclusion
Mabior Chol’s journey from South Sudan to Egypt, Australia and ultimately the AFL is a story shaped by family sacrifice, sporting development and persistence. Since debuting for Richmond in 2016, he has played for three AFL clubs, established himself as a key forward, won VFL premierships, led Gold Coast and Hawthorn in goalkicking seasons, and reached the 100-game milestone. By 2026, his career had expanded to include strong performances for Hawthorn as well as a more visible role in discussions about racism and the experiences of South Sudanese-Australian athletes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mabior Chol
Who is Mabior Chol?
Mabior Chol is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays as a key forward for Hawthorn Football Club in the AFL. He was born in South Sudan and moved to Australia with his family as a child.
How old is Mabior Chol?
Mabior Chol is 29 years old as of September 2026. He was born on January 29, 1997.
Where was Mabior Chol born?
Mabior Chol was born in present-day South Sudan. His family later moved to Egypt before settling in Australia in 2005.
What is Mabior Chol’s nationality?
Mabior Chol is South Sudanese-born and Australian. He moved to Australia as a child and developed his football career in Queensland.
Which AFL team does Mabior Chol play for?
Mabior Chol plays for Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League.
What position does Mabior Chol play?
Mabior Chol primarily plays as a key forward and can also provide relief in the ruck.
How tall is Mabior Chol?
Mabior Chol is 200 centimetres tall, which is approximately 6 feet 7 inches.
What is Mabior Chol’s Instagram handle?
Mabior Chol’s Instagram handle is @mabiorchol.
When did Mabior Chol make his AFL debut?
Mabior Chol made his AFL debut for Richmond in Round 23 of the 2016 season against Sydney.
Which AFL clubs has Mabior Chol played for?
Mabior Chol has played AFL football for Richmond, Gold Coast and Hawthorn.
How many goals did Mabior Chol kick for Gold Coast in 2022?
Mabior Chol kicked 44 goals for Gold Coast in the 2022 season and finished as the club’s leading goalkicker.
Was Mabior Chol Hawthorn’s leading goalkicker?
Yes. Mabior Chol was Hawthorn’s leading goalkicker in 2024.
Did Mabior Chol win a VFL premiership?
Yes. Mabior Chol won VFL premierships with Richmond in 2019 and Gold Coast in 2023.
Is Mabior Chol married?
There is no consistently verified public information establishing that Mabior Chol is married.
Does Mabior Chol have children?
Reliable public sources do not provide confirmed information about whether Mabior Chol has children.
What religion is Mabior Chol?
Mabior Chol’s religion has not been reliably documented in major public sources.
What tribe is Mabior Chol?
Mabior Chol’s South Sudanese heritage is well documented, but his specific tribal affiliation has not been reliably established in the sources used for this biography.
What is Mabior Chol’s net worth?
Mabior Chol’s exact net worth has not been publicly verified. Based on his years as a professional AFL player and current career status, an unofficial estimate could place his 2026 net worth around A$1 million to A$3 million, but this is not a confirmed financial figure.
Why was Mabior Chol in the news in 2026?
Mabior Chol attracted significant attention in June 2026 after receiving racist abuse through social media following Hawthorn’s match against the Western Bulldogs. He publicly shared the abuse, and the AFL and Hawthorn condemned the incident and investigated it.
What happened to Mabior Chol after the racist abuse?
Mabior Chol received public support from Hawthorn and the AFL. The AFL Integrity Unit and Hawthorn worked together to investigate the racist messages, while league and club officials publicly condemned the abuse.
What is Mabior Chol known for?
Mabior Chol is known for his AFL career with Richmond, Gold Coast and Hawthorn, his performances as a tall key forward, his South Sudanese-Australian background and his community involvement.
What is Mabior Chol’s legacy?
Mabior Chol’s developing legacy combines his AFL career with his journey from South Sudan to Australia, his representation of South Sudanese heritage in Australian football, his community involvement and his public response to racism.