Williams to debut for GIANTS
Eighteen year-old Williams is from Narrandera in New South Wales and was selected with pick 55 in the 2013 NAB AFL Rookie Draft. He is now the fifth NSW/ACT born player to make their AFL debut in 2013.
The young midfielder joined the Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy in 2011 and is the first player from the Academy to play AFL for the GIANTS.
Williams has been elevated to the senior list with forward Jon Patton placed on the long term injury list following a knee reconstruction.
Former Carlton player Bret Thornton will also play his first match for the GIANTS after he kicked eight goals for the UWS GIANTS in the NEAFL last weekend.
Thornton played 188 games for the Blues before joining the GIANTS in the 2012 NAB AFL pre-season draft.
The GIANTS have made five changes to the team that played Melbourne last week at the MCG with Devon Smith and Lachie Plowman returning to the side and Adam Tomlinson named for his first match of the season.
Stephen Gilham, Liam Sumner, Sam Frost, Jacob Townsend and Anthony Miles have all been omitted.
GIANTS Head Coach Kevin Sheedy congratulated Williams on making his debut.
“Zac Williams is a young Indigenous player out of our zone and he’s earned his spot on merit with some very impressive and consistent form for the UWS GIANTS in the NEAFL,” said Sheedy.
“It’s a great endorsement of the work the Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy is doing to promote the game in our region and give young players in NSW and the ACT a chance to play at the elite level and I want to congratulate Lachie Buszard and his team.”
“Williams will add some pace to our side while Bret Thornton will also make his debut for the GIANTS and give us some added experience and an extra option up forward.
“Thornton’s also got the ability to go back if we need, and Adam Tomlinson is another player I’m pleased to see back in the team after building up some good form in the NEAFL,” he said.”
James Stewart, who was taken with pick 27 in the 2012 draft, has overcome a back injury and will play his match for the UWS GIANTS in the NEAFL at StarTrack Oval Canberra on Saturday. The match starts at 9.30am.
Fans with a ticket for the GIANTS against Gold Coast match at StarTrack Oval Canberra are reminded that all you need to do is show your match ticket when you board an ACTION bus and will travel for free both to and from the ground.
Catch an ACTION bus from anywhere in Canberra to the Woden or City Bus Stations, and then jump on a free shuttle service and it will take you straight to Star Track Oval.
