The stars aligned for Ryan Williams last weekend, becoming the four player from the successful 2017 senior colt premiership side and the seventh player to make their A Grade debut for the Blackwood Football Club during Season 2018. Son of Life Member Greg Williams, Ryan made his debut during Round 4 of the Mortgage Choice Hills Football League against the Hahndorf Football Club. Williams was a late call up to the side after Matt Waldron withdrew from the selected line-up.
Speaking after the match, A Grade coach Damien Salievic said “it was great to see Williams make his A Grade debut today. He showed some great moments throughout the match and has a bright future.”
During his junior seasons, Williams played at SANFL level for the South Adelaide Football Club. In this time at the Panthers he played 36 matches and kicked 13 goals. During the 2018 pre-season Williams trained down at West Adelaide playing two pre-season matches in the Australian Unity Fast Footy competition.
2018 wasn’t the first time Williams has played senior football for the Blackwood Football Club. During 2017 Williams was lucky enough to make his senior debut playing four B Grade matches across the season. In these matches he recorded four victories, being named in the best player on two occasions in Round 16 against Uraidla Districts and Round 17 against Hahndorf.
Known for his outstanding ability to cover the ground at speed, Williams showed this asset in late 2017 where he competed in the Bay Sheffield, running 12.805 seconds in the heats of the 120 m race.
Williams statistics from his junior seasons at the Woods are as follows:
- 92 matches
- 81.5% winning ratio (75 wins and 17 losses)
- 68 goals (0.74 per match)
- 47 times in the best players (51.1% of matches) (1st: 9 times, 2nd: 9 times, 3rd: 15 times, 4th 7 times, 5th: 7 times)
- 2 time premiership player (Mini Colts 2012, Senior Colts 2017)
- Owen Lamshed Medalist in 2012
Below are some action shots from Williams during his debut:
