ZAC WILLIAMS loves footy.
Spending as much time as he has on the sideline has only reinforced this, spending every minute watching his teammates train and play.
Able to return in 2024 for 19 games was something Williams relished – having suffered interrupted seasons due to injury since 2020.
The return to footy was a special moment - as was playing his 150th AFL game at the MCG for his boyhood Club - but the good times for the 29-year-old are just beginning.
“You go from standing on the sidelines watching your teammates play footy and training and you feel kind of helpless when you’re not involved in helping the team win games,” Williams said.
“The fact that I played a big chunk of the season this year I’m really happy about. I think this is the first time in a while at the end of a season where I haven’t carried an injury into the off-season.”
What started as a forced change in Round 11 became normal for the half-back, who was pushed forward in the Sydney clash to replace missing personnel.
Slotting four goals the following week against Gold Coast solidified his new role for the year, as Williams accepted the challenge with open arms after 10 seasons as a defender.
“I think I have the ability to be flipped around anywhere and I think the coaches like that flexibility with certain players in our team,” he said.
“I think a big focus for myself is to focus on my role as a forward and work on my craft in that aspect but also the ability to be able to go into a pre-season and be fit and healthy and get after it.
“When we get into games, I think it’s really exciting to have options to play anywhere.”
Williams fit in nicely up forward, with his bubbly personality and hunt for the ball fitting in with the crew around him, while his passion for celebrating also held him in good stead.
Looking back on the change, the 29-year-old found comfort in the amount of people who helped him succeed in the forward 50.
“The two big boys in Charlie and Harry, they played a big part in putting me where I need to be and put me in the best position to help them but also impact the game the way I needed to,” he said.
“It was very exciting to be playing forward but also know I can lean on my back craft as well.”
The fun doesn’t stop for Williams in the off-season, with his wife Rachel expecting their second child in mid-October.
Ready for a busy period away from footy, he admitted a lot of baby shopping faced him at the end of the season, but ultimately, he can’t wait to bring their new family member into the Carlton community at IKON Park.
“To go from one busy time in the back end of the season and footy finishes up, you think I could put the feet up but we’re expecting my second child in mid-October,” he said.
"It’s one busy time to another but I’m really excited to be growing our family – Ayla talks about it a lot and says that she’ll help out, but we’ll see.
“It’s exciting having the kids around the Club, it changes the environment a bit and all the other boys without kids are a bit awkward, especially the young boys, I’ll give Jesse Motlop props though, he’s pretty good.”
A Bluebagger since childhood, Williams often reflects on the way he’s been embraced by the entire Carlton contingent, especially in the times when he wasn’t able to pull on the boots.
Heading into an off-season injury-free for the first time in four years has given him perspective on how lucky he is to have such a wide support system – especially from people he has never met.
For Williams at Carlton in 2025, things are definitely looking up.
“The Carlton faithful have been very good to me over the last few months, especially when I was going through a tough time last year when I wasn’t playing and wanting to be out there,” he said.
“The Club and players were great, they were my internal support to lean on but the amount of messages I’ve been receiving - even this year now that I’m back playing - from the Carlton faithful and all the supporters has been overwhelming and I’ve loved every message that I’ve got, I can’t thank the Carlton supporter group enough.”
