Traded #29 Zac Williams (Pick 54, 2012 Rookie Draft)

[captainMyCaptain]

Zac Williams

Height: 184cm
Weight: 81kg
D/O/B: 20/09/94
Position: Utility

Zach Williams was selected by the GIANTS with pick number 54 in the 2012 rookie draft which was well earned by the athletic half-back from Nerrandera, NSW.

Williams was also the standout player for the NSW/ACT Rams at the U18 National Championship which resulted in him becoming the only player from NSW to be invited to the annual AFL draft camp in Melbourne.

As part of the Slater & Gordon Giants Academy since 2011, he is the first Academy graduate to play senior football for the Giants.

NARRANDERA teenager Zac Williams will live out his childhood dream tomorrow when he makes his senior AFL debut for Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants.

The Giants last night upgraded Williams' from the rookie list to the senior squad and brought him straight into the team for tomorrow's clash with Gold Coast Suns.
Williams was called into GWS coach Kevin Sheedy's office on Wednesday where he and Leon Cameron delivered him the news of his upgrade and immediate call-up into the senior team.
The 18-year-old Narrandera young gun could hardly believe the news and is still on a high ahead of tomorrow's special moment.
"I still can't believe it," Williams told The Daily Advertiser yesterday.

"I'm pretty stoked about it

http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/1458366/giant-leap-for-williams/?cs=12

 

[Determinant]

Under new management

 

[Gigantor]

I'd like to see the boy from Narrandera push on.

 

[Determinant]

Williams played very well in the practice match on Saturday against last years reserve premiers the Swans.

Williams & Kelly both looked a class above the players around them and are pressing hard for first team spots.

 

[Determinant]

Williams named to make his '14 debut against Adelaide on Sunday afternoon.

 

[Determinant]

When asked about Zac's best role by IN, Leon's response was as expected.

 

[Determinant]

Pocket Profile.

http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2015-06-01/pocket-profile-zac-williams

Pocket Profile - Zac Williams

Your nickname:
Zaccy

One word to describe you:
Menace

Favourite player to watch growing up:
Lenny Hayes

Who has had the most influence on your career:
Mum

Toughest individual opponent:
Eddie Betts

Player most likely to fall asleep in a team meeting:
Jezza Finlayson

Thriftiest player at your club:
Toby Greene

The next big thing at your club:
Adam Treloar

The smartest thing you have been told:
If it is to be, it’s up to me

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be:
Greek Islands

Do you have any strange phobias:
Spiders and snakes

Your can’t-miss TV shows:
Geordie Shore

Your favourite cartoon as a kid:
Scooby Do

If you had to choose another career, what would it be:
Singer

What do you normally eat for breakfast:
Eggs

Your favourite holiday destination:
Bali

In the movie of your life, you’d be played by:
Brad Pitt

What are your three essential items:
Phone, Wallet, Bucket Hat

Most useless thing you have bought:
Selfie stick

Best subject at school:
English

Which big ticket sporting event would you love to attend:
Super Bowl

- See more at: http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2015-06-01/pocket-profile-zac-williams#sthash.jV1vCabs.dpuf

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Nice write up on Zac
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...ach-leon-cameron/story-fni5f7qp-1227429506307

 

[Determinant]

WHEN Zac Williams arrived at GWS three years ago, his teammates called him Kevin Sheedy’s love child, such was the admiration the legendary coach had for the kid from Narrandera.

If he continues to play like he did against Richmond on Saturday, Williams could soon become Leon Cameron’s teacher’s pet as well.

The 20-year-old had his best game, taking eight marks and collecting 18 disposals playing mostly in defence in the nine-point loss.

Both coaches would also have noted the performance came on the game’s biggest stage, the MCG.

More in the story, really nice guy as well..

 

[Determinant]

Defender Zac Williams is the latest GIANT to put pen to paper, re-signing with the club for a further two years.

Williams, out of contract at the end of this season, has signed a two-year extension to tie him to the GIANTS until at least the end of 2017.

From Narrandera in southern NSW, the 20-year-old was the first graduate of the PM CAPITAL GIANTS Academy to play AFL football for the GIANTS.

Williams was picked as an Academy selection in the 2013 Rookie Draft at number 55. He made his debut in round five, 2013 and played 11 games in his debut season, earning a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

The small defender has now played 27 games for the club, including eight in 2015 but has missed the last fortnight with a hamstring injury.

He’s been named to return to the GIANTS team this Saturday against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

Williams said he is excited to remain a GIANT.

“It was a pretty easy decision to re-sign with the club for another two years,” Williams said.

“I’ve been here for three years now and I’m really settled in Sydney with some of my best mates here at the club.

“Coming through the PM CAPITAL GIANTS Academy and arriving at the GIANTS just out of school, the club has always been really good to me and this is where I want to be.

“It’s an exciting time to be part of the GIANTS and I can’t wait to see what the next few years hold for our team.”

Williams’ commitment follows shortly after fellow defenders Aidan Corr and Matt Buntine as well as Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel, Jeremy Cameron, Devon Smith and Will Hoskin-Elliott in recently re-signing with the club.

CEO David Matthews said it was another endorsement of where the club is heading.

“Zac is a quality person and a great endorsement for the PM CAPITAL GIANTS Academy and the important role it plays in developing talent across NSW.” Matthews said.

“His commitment, along with so many others who have re-signed this year, shows the club is well and truly heading in the right direction.

“We’ve had our best season yet on the field and are pushing for finals in just our fourth year so these players know there’s an exciting future ahead.”

Coach Leon Cameron said it was great to have Williams re-sign.

“Zac has grown into an exciting player for us with his skills and speed off the backline. He’s improving week by week and we’re excited for what his future holds." - See more at: http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2015-08-13/williams-commits#sthash.qz74RVjm.dpuf

 

[Determinant]

Name: Zac Williams

Number: 29

2015 Games: 12 AFL, 6 NEAFL

AFL Fantasy Average: 65

Awards: Nil


Background: Local NSW product Zac Williams was selected by the GIANTS with pick 55 in the 2012 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

Best Game: AFL Round 17 v Geelong - 24 touches, 7 marks, 4 inside-50s and 3 rebound-50s.

Summary: It was a breakout season for Zac Williams who established himself as a consistent senior player and turned some heads in the process. Williams played his first game of the season in Round 6 and started slowly, often being thrown the sub vest before the match. Once he found his feet the 21-year-old was electric, often making the highlight reel for his dashing runs from half-back. Williams showed his versatility, pushing forward at various stages to kick goals and help provide defensive pressure inside forward-50. He also signed a two-year extension to tie him to the GIANTS until at least the end of 2017.

Pat On The Back: Williams is one of the GIANTS’ big success stories this season after taking his game to another level.

What They Said: “Zac has grown into an exciting player for us with his skills and speed off the backline. He’s improving week by week and we’re excited for what his future holds." - GIANTS Coach Leon Cameron.

Look Ahead: The challenge for Zac Williams in 2016 will be consistency and being able to replicate patches of exciting form from this season on a regular basis. Ideally he would like to lock down a position in the back six and cement himself in the side.

- See more at: http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2015-10-13/season-summary-zac-williams#sthash.P3RLwDJQ.dpuf

 

[captainMyCaptain]

GREATER Western Sydney has re-signed promising defender Zac Williams for two years. The 20-year-old has played eight games this season to take his overall tally to 27 and after missing the past fortnight with a hamstring injury, will line up against Port Adelaide on Saturday.
"It was a pretty easy decision to re-sign with the club for another two years," Williams said.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-13/gws-resigns-promising-young-defender-zac-williams

 

[Determinant]

Summary: It was a breakout season for Zac Williams who established himself as a consistent senior player and turned some heads in the process. Williams played his first game of the season in Round 6 and started slowly, often being thrown the sub vest before the match. Once he found his feet the 21-year-old was electric, often making the highlight reel for his dashing runs from half-back. Williams showed his versatility, pushing forward at various stages to kick goals and help provide defensive pressure inside forward-50. He also signed a two-year extension to tie him to the GIANTS until at least the end of 2017. -

See more at: http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2015-10-13/season-summary-zac-williams#sthash.3JSTzPCq.dpuf

 

[FatboyFabian]

What have people thought of Zac Williams thus far? Has he cemented his spot in best 22 and will he only get better from here on out?

 

[coniglio_number1]

What have people thought of Zac Williams thus far? Has he cemented his spot in best 22 and will he only get better from here on out?

Easily best 22. Not for trade

 

[Determinant]

When Kevin Sheedy first saw Zac Williams train, there were two traits he noticed immediately. One he could see from the sidelines – the way he ran, avoided tackles and his willingness to take the game on.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/afl...est-kevin-sheedy-protege-20160617-gplfaz.html

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Congrats to Zac who will play game number 50 along side Wilson who also brings up his 50th game, and in doing so Zac become our first local talent to do so.
http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2016-08-19/the-deadly-duo

 

[Determinant]

There's a Giant in Zac

http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/video/2016-09-08/theres-a-giant-in-zac-williams

 

[Determinant]

http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2016-11-18/zac-williams-2016-season-review

Best Game

Williams was one of the stars of the GIANTS' 2016 campaign with his run and carry from half-back a joy to watch throughout the season.

While he was outstanding in the GIANTS' Qualifying Final against Sydney, his best performance came in the GIANTS’ round eight win over the Gold Coast Suns.

The 22-year-old GIANTS Academy product polled two Brownlow Medal votes as he collected a career-high 31 disposals, took eight marks and sent the ball inside 50 nine times.

After a number of seasons in and out of the senior side, Williams proved he is a star in the making as he also directly assisted in two goals during the GIANTS' thumping 91-point win.

GIANT Moment

Finals are made for GIANT Moments and Zac Williams produced a stunner in the Qualifying Final.

With five minutes remaining in the second quarter and scores tied, Sydney midfielder Tom Mitchell sent a high ball to the top of the Swans goal square.

The ball dropped spilled from a marking contest to Sydney’s Josh Kennedy who was poised to put his side into a six-point lead.

Williams was having none of that.

Using every bit of his strength, Williams dived onto Kennedy with a tackle that not only stopped him from getting a shot on goal away but from dishing off a handball to one of three waiting teammates.

The umpire called holding the ball and a minute later the GIANTS hit the lead with a goal through Lachie Whitfield.

2016 Season Stats

Games – 22 (Most in a season)

Goals – 4

Brownlow Medal Votes – 2 (First ever Brownlow votes)

Sheedy Medal Votes – 129 (7th)

Disposals – 456

Marks – 96

Tackles – 67

Clearances – 36

Inside 50s - 74

Rebounds - 60

What to expect in 2017

2016 was a milestone season for the GIANTS and for Williams.

The 22-year-old played 22 games for the season, his most in four years at the GIANTS, and polled his first ever Brownlow Medal votes.

We also learned a whole heap more about the young GIANT known affectionately as ‘The King of Narrandera’.

 

[dlanod]

Zac Williams wanted to make sure of one thing, when pre-season training started late last year. In his first four years at the GIANTS he had made his way off the rookie list, played his first 50 games, begun to feel like he knew the things he was good at and what his teammates expected of him each week. He had become the first graduate of the GIANTS Academy to play a senior game for the club, and been an important part of the first-ever finals side.

There was something Williams had never done, though. He had never been picked to play in a round one team. So when his back started to feel sore just a few weeks into training, he got worried. And when he was told he had a stress fracture in his lower back and wasn’t allowed to train again until after the Christmas break, he felt even more anxious. It made him realise that when he was allowed to get going again he would need to make the most of every week, every day and even every hour, if he was going to break the trend.

http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2017-05-10/mothers-day-all-year-round

 

[dlanod]

A SIDESTEP developed playing rugby league is helping rising star Zac Williams prosper at Greater Western Sydney.

In previous seasons, Williams has established himself as a dashing half-back flanker.

But with multiple injuries digging deep into the Giants midfield and forward stocks, 22-year-old Williams has found himself pressed into those areas in recent games.

He bagged a career-high three goals in last week's win over Essendon, adding 25 touches, seven tackles and six marks in a standout performance, which earned him selection in the AFL.com.au's team of the week.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-08/the-secret-behind-zac-williams-special-sidestep

 

[fridgeman]

'I'm a midfielder': Giants defender happy in the guts

Zac Williams relished his new role in the midfield against the Pies last week

www.afl.com.au

Write up after an impressive performance v the Pies on the weekend

 

[fridgeman]

Zac Williams: From Little Things, Big Things Grow

On Saturday night Zac Williams will become the GIANTS Academy’s first player to reach 100 AFL games for the club.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

Zac Williams: 100 Games

Some of the best moments from Zac Williams as he celebrates his 100th game in the semi final versus Brisbane.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

100 games up and it is a great story for the clubs 1st academy player