A pint-sized rover, he made his senior debut for West Australian National Football League club East Fremantle in the earlier 1970s as a free-spirited 16-year-old.
By 1979 he had become a premiership player, represented Western Australia at state of origin and gained All-Australian selection.
As his career with Essendon progressed, the awards continued to flow including being the team's leading vote getter in the 1982 Brownlow Medal, most determined player in 1983 and state selection again in 1984.
Essendon were to avenge their defeat in the following year's grand final, but it was to be without the "Budgie", who, after an injury interrupted season, was named only as an emergency.
Disappointed at having missed the Premiership, Buhagiar decided to return home to East Fremantle, but was talked into resurrecting his VFL career with Footscray.