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The West Australian
Footy runs deep for Williams
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DAVID REED
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When Rodney Eade was on the hunt for mature AFL recruits for Sydney, his view was simple.
Go for players whose bodies can withstand the rigours of top-flight football for at least five years and ensure they bring something positive to the team and fulfil a defined role.
Former Collingwood player Paul Williams has definitely passed the latter test, winning two club champion awards in his first two years in the harbour city after 189 games at Victoria Park.
He did not take the fairest and best at Sydney last season but his consolation prizes were not too bad.
He won All-Australian selection for the first time, passed the 250-game milestone and made it as far as a preliminary final with his team.
As Williams, 31, enters his fourth season at the Swans with, he believes, a couple more years left in his tank, he is well on the way to completing the Eade checklist.
Williams arrived in Sydney before the 2001 season without the fanfare of a Tony Lockett or a Barry Hall.
His desire was just to "enjoy his football".
But Eade quit and was replaced by youthful Paul Roos, attitudes changed and the free-running goal kicker found he was playing a new part in the Sydney regime.
A conversation with Williams now is more like speaking to an assistant coach than one of the boys.
The married father of two has found himself involved heavily with the coaching staff, as well as developing the younger players as a designated mentor at the club.
"We have got a number of senior guys who take on roles with the younger fellows," Williams said.
"I have got Nic Fosdike, Jarrad McVeigh and Luke Ablett.
"We also watch videos of their games and help them analyse their games better.
"All three of the guys I have got are not married.
"Nic Fosdike has a girlfriend but the others are normal 19 and 20-year-old men.
"I think it has been good for them."
The program's success is reflected by the immediate impact many youngsters have had when given a crack at senior level.
But Williams says the secret is canny recruiting.
"All we are trying to do is make sure they are ready when they get the chance," Williams.
"I think they have realised what is needed and the recruiters should get a pat on the back because they are all good kids and just want to learn, which makes all our jobs easier.
"The character of them is no doubt the highlight of the kids we have drafted.
"I don't think there are any bad eggs at all amongst the whole group, which is a key to having a good side."
There is also the undeniable influence of Roos, who led the Swans to a preliminary final in his first year at the helm.
"The thing about Roosy is that he just puts a lot of ownership on the guys out there," Williams said.
"He wants the players to react themselves, rather than him sending the runner out each time, and be able to change things to better the side while we are out there.
"If he doesn't like something happening out there, he will change it.
"But he wants the majority of the group to have a fair bit of responsibility and accountability out there.
"I think that is just breeding confidence in the group and the side has really enjoyed playing under him."
Today, Sydney faces West Coast at Subiaco Oval and although it is regarded as one of the toughest road trips in the league, the Swans are far from fearful.
They have won two of their past three clashes with West Coast at Subiaco Oval, winning in 2000 and 2001 before last year's 13-point loss.
"It is always a close game over there," Williams said.
"Subiaco Oval does suit our style, as no doubt it suits West Coast and Fremantle but we have no fear travelling to Perth.
"The ground is a lot longer but I think the way we carry the footy is conducive to the big grounds as well.
"Hopefully, the guys get back into playing the type of footy we know we can play, sooner rather than later.
"If we had our time again last week (in the narrow loss to Richmond), I think a few of our guys would have done a few things differently but saying that, Richmond played really well and adapted to the wet conditions well.
"We did some things that weren't that smart and we'll have to learn from it."
Any AFL midfielder in his 30s - Michael Tuck and Craig Bradley excluded - soon realises that time and the pace of the game waits for no man and their thoughts turn to life after football.
Williams is no different.
"I am setting myself up outside footy but if something came up inside, that would be great," Williams said.
"This is my 14th season now and I hope I have a few more to go.
"It will be hard to say goodbye when it's time to go."
May 15, 2004
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Footy runs deep for Williams
_
DAVID REED
_
_
When Rodney Eade was on the hunt for mature AFL recruits for Sydney, his view was simple.
Go for players whose bodies can withstand the rigours of top-flight football for at least five years and ensure they bring something positive to the team and fulfil a defined role.
Former Collingwood player Paul Williams has definitely passed the latter test, winning two club champion awards in his first two years in the harbour city after 189 games at Victoria Park.
He did not take the fairest and best at Sydney last season but his consolation prizes were not too bad.
He won All-Australian selection for the first time, passed the 250-game milestone and made it as far as a preliminary final with his team.
As Williams, 31, enters his fourth season at the Swans with, he believes, a couple more years left in his tank, he is well on the way to completing the Eade checklist.
Williams arrived in Sydney before the 2001 season without the fanfare of a Tony Lockett or a Barry Hall.
His desire was just to "enjoy his football".
But Eade quit and was replaced by youthful Paul Roos, attitudes changed and the free-running goal kicker found he was playing a new part in the Sydney regime.
A conversation with Williams now is more like speaking to an assistant coach than one of the boys.
The married father of two has found himself involved heavily with the coaching staff, as well as developing the younger players as a designated mentor at the club.
"We have got a number of senior guys who take on roles with the younger fellows," Williams said.
"I have got Nic Fosdike, Jarrad McVeigh and Luke Ablett.
"We also watch videos of their games and help them analyse their games better.
"All three of the guys I have got are not married.
"Nic Fosdike has a girlfriend but the others are normal 19 and 20-year-old men.
"I think it has been good for them."
The program's success is reflected by the immediate impact many youngsters have had when given a crack at senior level.
But Williams says the secret is canny recruiting.
"All we are trying to do is make sure they are ready when they get the chance," Williams.
"I think they have realised what is needed and the recruiters should get a pat on the back because they are all good kids and just want to learn, which makes all our jobs easier.
"The character of them is no doubt the highlight of the kids we have drafted.
"I don't think there are any bad eggs at all amongst the whole group, which is a key to having a good side."
There is also the undeniable influence of Roos, who led the Swans to a preliminary final in his first year at the helm.
"The thing about Roosy is that he just puts a lot of ownership on the guys out there," Williams said.
"He wants the players to react themselves, rather than him sending the runner out each time, and be able to change things to better the side while we are out there.
"If he doesn't like something happening out there, he will change it.
"But he wants the majority of the group to have a fair bit of responsibility and accountability out there.
"I think that is just breeding confidence in the group and the side has really enjoyed playing under him."
Today, Sydney faces West Coast at Subiaco Oval and although it is regarded as one of the toughest road trips in the league, the Swans are far from fearful.
They have won two of their past three clashes with West Coast at Subiaco Oval, winning in 2000 and 2001 before last year's 13-point loss.
"It is always a close game over there," Williams said.
"Subiaco Oval does suit our style, as no doubt it suits West Coast and Fremantle but we have no fear travelling to Perth.
"The ground is a lot longer but I think the way we carry the footy is conducive to the big grounds as well.
"Hopefully, the guys get back into playing the type of footy we know we can play, sooner rather than later.
"If we had our time again last week (in the narrow loss to Richmond), I think a few of our guys would have done a few things differently but saying that, Richmond played really well and adapted to the wet conditions well.
"We did some things that weren't that smart and we'll have to learn from it."
Any AFL midfielder in his 30s - Michael Tuck and Craig Bradley excluded - soon realises that time and the pace of the game waits for no man and their thoughts turn to life after football.
Williams is no different.
"I am setting myself up outside footy but if something came up inside, that would be great," Williams said.
"This is my 14th season now and I hope I have a few more to go.
"It will be hard to say goodbye when it's time to go."
May 15, 2004
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