This article first appeared in the May 2020 edition of EAGLE EYE. It was written before Williams returned to Western Australia, where he is currently self-isolating for the State Government's mandated 14-day period.

The last place Bailey Williams expected to find himself in April was back at his parents’ home on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

Where he really wanted to be was in Perth training hard with his West Coast teammates and, hopefully, playing senior football after an outstanding summer on the track.

But during this unprecedented situation the 20-year-old, like many in the community, has been forced to put plans on hold while Australia rides out the COVID-19 storm.

As the pandemic rapidly spread, Williams suddenly went from pushing for a round one spot against Melbourne – with his bid hampered by an untimely hamstring niggle – to having to decide whether to return home before travel restrictions took that option away.

“It was a weird one,” Williams said.

“I was obviously getting pretty keen to play senior footy and got a chance to play in the Marsh Community Series, and then it came out there was only a day gap when I was actually going to be able to get home.

“I had to decide pretty quick and I just thought if I’m going to be isolated, because I live by myself in Perth, I’d probably rather be isolated with my family because I don’t know how long this is going to go on for.”

With his older brother and sister also at home, and Nan in another house on the same block, Williams is enjoying time with family and training hard.

His dad, Paul, has a handy weights set up, the local athletics track is just around the corner and ex-Dandenong Stingrays teammate Matthew Cottrell – now at Carlton – is close enough to meet up for a kick.

“There are obviously limitations on how many guys you can train with, so it makes it hard to do transition skills but I’ve been training with Matt. We’ve both got programs that we do,” Williams said.

With the tantalising carrot of a West Coast debut dangling in front of him, finding motivation during the AFL shutdown hasn’t been a problem.

Building on his promising WAFL season last year, the imposing 199cm forward-ruck came on in leaps and bounds over summer.

Track watchers have noted Williams’ growing frame, fierce attack on the football in the air and prodigious leap – all positive signs for his development after being selected with pick No.35 in the 2018 draft.

Whether Williams will develop into more of a forward or ruck is a question he has been asked regularly, but he enjoys splitting time between both roles.

”I think that’s one of my strengths, I can play a couple of positions and feel comfortable,” Williams said.

“I probably used last year to find my feet and played some pretty good footy, then coming into this year I just thought I was probably a bit more hungry.

“I’m a lot more comfortable around the group and I suppose when you go up against Nic Naitanui every training you tend to train a little bit harder. It’s got to be pretty good in the long run.

“I’ve turned into a pretty big guy and I’ve learnt how to throw my weight around a little bit. There is probably a little bit of white line fever in there as well.”

The day will eventually come when West Coast fans will get to watch Williams in action, and he can’t wait to get back around his teammates.

“We can text and Facetime. I was having a chat to Nic the other day over Facetime, so I don’t feel too disconnected,” he said.

“I love it (in Perth). It’s perfect, especially we’re I’m living I’m pretty close to the club. I’ve got good mates, I enjoy my own space and it’s nice weather.

“At first I was probably a bit scared to move interstate, but now I wouldn’t change it at all.”