Narrandera product Zac Williams says an AFL debut with GWS Giants would be the cherry on top of the best year of his life, but for now he’s just happy being a part of the club.
Williams, 18, was rookie drafted to the AFL’s newest club at the end of last year and has since left home and moved to Sydney to pursue his football career.
He is yet to crack first grade but has played two NEAFL games and was named in the team’s best for his debut against Swans a fortnight ago.
He still has an AFL debut on his radar but says there are other things he wants to tick off his
to-do list.
“We have a pretty strong list so I know it will be tough, but if I get a game (of AFL) I will be the happiest man in the world,” Williams said.
“At the moment I’m just working on fitting in with the group and training hard and playing well.”
Williams is among the youngest listed players at GWS and has left his family behind in Narrandera to chase his dream.
He admits moving away from home was hard but says he is enjoying life as a professional footballer.
“At the start it was pretty tough, being away from home, but I found all the boys helped me and made the transition pretty easy,” he said.
“I knew a few of the boys before I joined the Giants so it was good seeing them again and playing with them.”
Williams will return to the Riverina today to line-up against Ainslie at McPherson Oval.
He will be one of a handful of Riverina products to represent GWS in the NEAFL game and says he can’t wait to play in Wagga again.
“My family is coming over to watch me so hopefully I play well,” he said.
“It will be good to get back and play in the Riverina.
“You never know with country footy, but hopefully we can get a few people there to watch.”
Williams has been following the latest RFL news during the off-season and is tipping the Eagles to back up well after helping them to a premiership in September.
“I think Narrandera will still be strong,” he said.
“They still have a lot of the boys from last year so they should go OK.”
Williams was one of a number of Giants NEAFL players to visit schools in the region yesterday and spent time at The Rock and Uranquinty public schools.