West Coast fans were licking their lips at the prospect of Williams making his AFL debut after the 20-year-old showed promising signs during the club’s Marsh Community Series clash with Essendon at Mineral Resources Park. Williams was in the mix for the club’s season opening match against Melbourne, but suffered an untimely injury ahead of the game, so the blue and gold army had to wait until round 14 – a matchup with reigning premiers Richmond – to see him in action at the highest level for the first time. Williams fared well in his maiden outing and made two more senior appearances against Essendon in round 15 and North Melbourne in the final qualifying round of the year. He showed off his prodigious leap, winning his fair share of centre bounce hitouts, but he will doubtless be determined to bulk up his slender frame in a bid to have a bigger impact at stoppages in season 2021.

Standout performance: A second crack against Essendon

Williams got a second shot at taking on the Bombers in round 15 after getting a sighter against John Worsfold’s men in a pre-season match in March. The Dandenong Stingrays product proved to be a quick learner, amassing a season-high 11 hitouts against Sam Draper after only managing muster five during their Marsh Community Series tussle. Williams also collected six disposals, four contested possession, two contested marks and his maiden AFL goal – a crafty soccer off the deck that split the big sticks to gift West Coast a 15-point lead in the opening quarter.

Season averages:

Hitouts: 8.0
Disposals: 7.0
Contested possessions: 3.0
Marks: 1.7
Tackles: 1.7
Score involvements: 1.7
Inside 50s: 1.0
Intercepts: 1.0
One percenters: 1.0