Paul Williams (Australian rules footballer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Williams is a former Australian rules football
er with both Collingwood
and Sydney
. Since retiring from playing, he has been an assistant coach, including a bried period as caretaker coach of the Western Bulldogs
towards the end of the 2011 season. Williams is currently assistant coaching at the Carlton Football Club
.
career with Collingwood, joining them from Tasmanian club North Hobart. Playing in a number of positions ranging from half back to half forward, the tough-tackling Williams was a regular in the mostly unsuccessful Collingwood side of the late 1990s, racking up 189 games and kicking 223 goals (his best being 6 against Carlton in 1996). However, at the end of the 2000 season, he was traded to Sydney for two draft picks. There, he immediately made an impact, winning two consecutive Bob Skilton Medal
s in 2001 and 2002, as well as being selected in the All-Australian team of 2003.
In 2005, Williams played in the Swans' premiership side. In doing so, he established an AFL record for most matches played by a player before being in a premiership side, with the Grand Final having been his 294th game. Shane Crawford surpassed this record in 2008.
On 13 May 2006 against Richmond at Etihad Stadium, Williams became the 45th player to play 300 VFL/AFL games.
, and that more opportunities for selection to younger players such as Tim Schmidt
and Paul Bevan
was important for the club.
On 11 July 2006, coach Paul Roos
reported at a press conference that Williams was a chance to be rested for the forthcoming game against West Coast. Hours later, Williams announced his retirement, effective immediately due to surgery required on a broken collarbone, not seeing out his initial promise to retire at the end of the season.
, serving there for two years. In 2009, he moved into an assistant coaching role at the Western Bulldogs
, and served there for three years. While at the Bulldogs, Williams served three matches as caretaker senior coach after Rodney Eade
left the club before the end of the 2011 season. Williams' first match as caretaker Bulldogs coach resulted in a 60-point win over bottom-of-the-ladder . Williams shifted to a midfield assistant coaching role at the Carlton Football Club
for the 2012 season.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er with both Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and Sydney
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
. Since retiring from playing, he has been an assistant coach, including a bried period as caretaker coach of the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
towards the end of the 2011 season. Williams is currently assistant coaching at the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
.
AFL career
Williams began his AFLAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
career with Collingwood, joining them from Tasmanian club North Hobart. Playing in a number of positions ranging from half back to half forward, the tough-tackling Williams was a regular in the mostly unsuccessful Collingwood side of the late 1990s, racking up 189 games and kicking 223 goals (his best being 6 against Carlton in 1996). However, at the end of the 2000 season, he was traded to Sydney for two draft picks. There, he immediately made an impact, winning two consecutive Bob Skilton Medal
Bob Skilton Medal
The Bob Skilton Medal is awarded to the Sydney Swans player adjudged the Best and Fairest over the home and away season. It is named after Bob Skilton, who won the award a record nine times from 1958 to 1968.-List of winners:...
s in 2001 and 2002, as well as being selected in the All-Australian team of 2003.
In 2005, Williams played in the Swans' premiership side. In doing so, he established an AFL record for most matches played by a player before being in a premiership side, with the Grand Final having been his 294th game. Shane Crawford surpassed this record in 2008.
On 13 May 2006 against Richmond at Etihad Stadium, Williams became the 45th player to play 300 VFL/AFL games.
Retirement
On 21 June 2006, Williams announced he would be retiring at the end of the 2006 premiership season, which was his 16th at AFL level (and 6th with Sydney). Reasons cited for his retirement were the fact that his family was based in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and that more opportunities for selection to younger players such as Tim Schmidt
Tim Schmidt
Tim Schmidt is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.He was recruited as the number 29 draft pick in the 2003 AFL Draft from West Adelaide....
and Paul Bevan
Paul Bevan
Paul Bevan is an Australian rules football player with the Sydney Swans of the Australian Football League .Having grown up in Sydney, playing for Western Suburbs Magpies AFC in the Sydney AFL and the NSW/ACT under-18s team, he was elevated from the Swans' rookie list in 2004.He played 24 senior...
was important for the club.
On 11 July 2006, coach Paul Roos
Paul Roos (Australian rules footballer)
Paul Roos is a former Australian rules football player and coach in the VFL and Australian Football League.Playing the majority of his career with Fitzroy, Roos was one of the teams greats, captaining the side for a long time and was acknowledged as its best player for several seasons, being named...
reported at a press conference that Williams was a chance to be rested for the forthcoming game against West Coast. Hours later, Williams announced his retirement, effective immediately due to surgery required on a broken collarbone, not seeing out his initial promise to retire at the end of the season.
Coaching career
In 2007, Williams took up an assistant coaching role at the Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, serving there for two years. In 2009, he moved into an assistant coaching role at the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
, and served there for three years. While at the Bulldogs, Williams served three matches as caretaker senior coach after Rodney Eade
Rodney Eade
Rodney "Rocket" Eade is a former Australian rules footballer and the former coach of the Sydney Swans and Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League...
left the club before the end of the 2011 season. Williams' first match as caretaker Bulldogs coach resulted in a 60-point win over bottom-of-the-ladder . Williams shifted to a midfield assistant coaching role at the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
for the 2012 season.