GWS speedster Zac Williams intends lobbying coach Leon Cameron to stay in the midfield for Saturday’s AFL grand final and already has his argument worked out.
Predominantly used as a half-back flanker, Williams tuned in arguably the best performance of his career in last Saturday’s preliminary final.
With established midfielders Lachie Whitfield and Stephen Coniglio both contending for a recall for the clash with Richmond, competition for spots is set to intensify.
“l’ll definitely be going to have a chat with Leon, trying to stay in there,” Williams told AAP.
“I might have to tell Lachie that he might have to go back to the half-back flank I reckon.
“But in saying that Lachie got an All Australian (spot) for playing on the half-back flank last year, so I don’t think Lachie will be complaining about that too much either.”
Williams wants to continue testing himself against elite midfielders after overshadowing the much vaunted Collingwood brigade last week.
“I was up against (Steele) Sidebottom, (Scott ) Pendlebury, Adam (Treloar) and (Taylor) Adams, so you want to be playing on the best players,” he said.
“That I get the opportunity to go in there and put my head over the footy and have a good crack I absolutely love it.”
Williams also shone in the midfield in a series of games late in the season when GWS were without Coniglio, Josh Kelly and Matt de Boer.
“Every time he comes in there he’s played extremely well,” ruckman Shane Mumford told AAP.
After missing all of last season apart from the Giants two finals, due to a serious achilles injury, Williams has put together what he considers his best season.
“When I came back last year I think I would only have been at 70 per cent of what I was capable of doing,” Williams said
“So the fact I got another pre-season in without injuries, I think that’s gone a long way to me playing some pretty good football this year,” he said.
Williams played rugby league and basketball growing up in his home town of Narrandera in country NSW, but Australian rules also had a place in the family’s affections.
“My mum was a massive Swans supporter, so growing up I loved watching the Hawthorn and Swans grand finals,” he said.
“From the moment I probably turned 14, 15 I made the decision that I wanted to try and play professionally in the AFL.
“The fact that I actually got an opportunity was a dream come true but it goes one up now that I’m playing in the grand final.
“Having the experience over the last four years of playing finals footy at the MCG in front of big crowds, I think it’s set us up really nicely for this weekend.”