Zac Williams (Australian footballer)

Zachary Williams (born 20 September 1994) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Zac Williams
Williams playing for Greater Western Sydney in June 2017
Personal information
Full name Zachary Williams
Date of birth (1994-09-20) 20 September 1994
Place of birth Narrandera, New South Wales
Original team(s) Narrandera (Riverina Football League)
Draft No. 54, 2013 rookie draft
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 84 kg (185 lb)
Position(s) Utility
Club information
Current club Greater Western Sydney
Number 29
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2013– Greater Western Sydney 102 (25)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of PF 2019.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Williams was born and raised in Narrandera, New South Wales, and is of Aboriginal Australian (Wiradjuri) descent on his father's side; his mother was of Bosnian descent.[1][2]

He grew up playing an array of sports including basketball and rugby league, but focused mainly on Australian rules football.[3] Williams played junior football for the Narrandera Eagles in the Riverina Football Netball League and joined Greater Western Sydney's academy program at the age of 15.[4] He became the first academy graduate to join GWS's list when he was selected with pick 54 in the 2013 rookie draft by the Giants.[5]

AFL career

In April 2013, he was promoted from the rookie list to the senior list,[6] and made his debut in round five in the 2013 season. He earned the round 19 nomination for the 2013 AFL Rising Star award.[7]

On 24 May 2017, it was announced that he would wear number 67 on his jersey, rather than his usual 29, for the round 10 Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round game against West Coast. This was to commemorate the 1967 referendum (which allowed Indigenous Australians to be counted with the general population in the national census).[8]

References
  1. "GWS Giant Zac Williams embraces indigenous heritage". The Age. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  2. "AFL PLAYERS LAUNCH 2019 INDIGENOUS MAP" (PDF). AFL Players Association. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  3. Warren, Adrian (10 September 2019). "Giant Williams to bring up AFL 100". The Young Witness. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  4. Miller, Ryan (15 September 2019). "Zac Williams: From Little Things, Big Things Grow". gwsgiants.com.au. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  5. Curley, Adam (15 September 2019). "Rising Giant Zac Williams rewarded with new deal". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  6. Malone, Matt (26 April 2013). "Giant leap for Williams". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  7. "From Giants rookie to rising star, Williams is in a hurry". Australian Football League.
  8. "Players' number tribute to indigenous breakthrough". Australian Football League. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.

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