Tweet
Makes me want to go out and buy the Australian 
The Australian
Williams hits new heights
By Peter Lalor
September 11, 2003
PAUL WILLIAMS is enjoying the late afternoon quiet of an empty SCG, the relief of a week off and a few days that have delivered two milestones.
The 30-year-old midfielder made his debut with Collingwood in 1991 and transferred to Sydney in 2001 but had never tasted September success. That changed last Sunday when the Swans held on for an inspirational win over Port Adelaide.
Then, on Tuesday, Williams notched up another first when he made the All Australian team, along with team-mate Adam Goodes.
The Swans' dual best and fairest winner (2001, 2002), was named in the centre alongside Brisbane champion Michael Voss and St Kilda ball magnet Lenny Hayes.
The honour is all the more significant when you consider players like Essendon captain James Hird and St Kilda's Robert Harvey are on the bench and Hawthorn's Shane Crawford didn't even make the side.
Williams said last Sunday's win over Port Adelaide was "one of the best wins I've been involved in, in all my years of footy".
Which only proves that a year and a new coach can make a lot of difference.
In round five last year, Sydney drew with St Kilda in what might have been one of the most unedifying examples of negative, flooding, football played. "It was a terrible game," Williams recalls with a look of distaste.
"It sticks in the mind for the wrong reasons and I know, personally, I was not fond of being part of that game. But things have turned around so much in such a short span of time and the brand of footy the boys are playing, the hardness everyone is showing, is great."
Although Williams speaks highly of former coach Rodney Eade, he acknowledges that Paul Roos has reinvigorated the club.
"The beauty about Roosy is he made sure that everybody realised they got drafted in the first place because they stood out at some stage and played good footy and played their natural game and that's what he wanted from them," he said.
Like the Swans of 2002, Williams found himself stale at Collingwood in 2000 and decided the best thing to do was leave Melbourne.
"I just felt that my mind wasn't right and I wouldn't be able to give them my heart and soul," he said.
The Magpies got James Clement and Brodie Holland as part of the trade.
Holland and Williams crossed paths in round 21 when the Magpies player took out his opponent behind play. The incident was exacerbated by Collingwood's allegations that Williams had hit Holland first - a suggestion only made after the Swans player had been disconnected from the tele-conference at the tribunal.
"That's something that's in the past. I haven't spoken to Brodie but I'm sure if he had his time again and I had mine we'd both do things a little differently," Williams said.
Still, he is "a little" annoyed with the way Collingwood handled the matter. "It's just one of those unfortunate things in footy," he said.
Williams said the Swans needed the long break to Saturday week's preliminary final and appreciated a rest.
"I think it's a huge opportunity for us to freshen up a bit because the game against Port was a pretty taxing one," he said. "We obviously hit them pretty hard and the boys were a little bit sore come Monday and Tuesday, so it's handy to sit back and watch the teams go this weekend - knowing we'll be playing against them for a grand final spot the week after."
The Australian
The Australian
Williams hits new heights
By Peter Lalor
September 11, 2003
PAUL WILLIAMS is enjoying the late afternoon quiet of an empty SCG, the relief of a week off and a few days that have delivered two milestones.
The 30-year-old midfielder made his debut with Collingwood in 1991 and transferred to Sydney in 2001 but had never tasted September success. That changed last Sunday when the Swans held on for an inspirational win over Port Adelaide.
Then, on Tuesday, Williams notched up another first when he made the All Australian team, along with team-mate Adam Goodes.
The Swans' dual best and fairest winner (2001, 2002), was named in the centre alongside Brisbane champion Michael Voss and St Kilda ball magnet Lenny Hayes.
The honour is all the more significant when you consider players like Essendon captain James Hird and St Kilda's Robert Harvey are on the bench and Hawthorn's Shane Crawford didn't even make the side.
Williams said last Sunday's win over Port Adelaide was "one of the best wins I've been involved in, in all my years of footy".
Which only proves that a year and a new coach can make a lot of difference.
In round five last year, Sydney drew with St Kilda in what might have been one of the most unedifying examples of negative, flooding, football played. "It was a terrible game," Williams recalls with a look of distaste.
"It sticks in the mind for the wrong reasons and I know, personally, I was not fond of being part of that game. But things have turned around so much in such a short span of time and the brand of footy the boys are playing, the hardness everyone is showing, is great."
Although Williams speaks highly of former coach Rodney Eade, he acknowledges that Paul Roos has reinvigorated the club.
"The beauty about Roosy is he made sure that everybody realised they got drafted in the first place because they stood out at some stage and played good footy and played their natural game and that's what he wanted from them," he said.
Like the Swans of 2002, Williams found himself stale at Collingwood in 2000 and decided the best thing to do was leave Melbourne.
"I just felt that my mind wasn't right and I wouldn't be able to give them my heart and soul," he said.
The Magpies got James Clement and Brodie Holland as part of the trade.
Holland and Williams crossed paths in round 21 when the Magpies player took out his opponent behind play. The incident was exacerbated by Collingwood's allegations that Williams had hit Holland first - a suggestion only made after the Swans player had been disconnected from the tele-conference at the tribunal.
"That's something that's in the past. I haven't spoken to Brodie but I'm sure if he had his time again and I had mine we'd both do things a little differently," Williams said.
Still, he is "a little" annoyed with the way Collingwood handled the matter. "It's just one of those unfortunate things in footy," he said.
Williams said the Swans needed the long break to Saturday week's preliminary final and appreciated a rest.
"I think it's a huge opportunity for us to freshen up a bit because the game against Port was a pretty taxing one," he said. "We obviously hit them pretty hard and the boys were a little bit sore come Monday and Tuesday, so it's handy to sit back and watch the teams go this weekend - knowing we'll be playing against them for a grand final spot the week after."
The Australian
Is there a list of players state by state somewhere?!
Comment