AFL Round 9 GWS Giants v Carlton: All the news, stats and reaction

Zac Williams will miss the majority of the 2022 season after suffering an injury against GWS but there’s a silver lining for the key defender. Here’s why.

Jon Ralph, Daniel Garb and Jay Clark

7 min read

May 16, 2022 - 5:24PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Zac Williams was all smiles before the game against GWS. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

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Carlton’s defensive playmaker Zac Williams has dodged a dreaded achilles tendon rupture and will instead be sidelined with a high-grade calf injury.

The Blues believe Williams will miss 10-12 weeks but it is a best-case scenario given the likely 12-month recovery had he torn his achilles.

Williams is in the second season of a five-year deal and slumped to the Giants Stadium turf early in the victory over GWS.

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He was inconsolable and feared he had torn the opposite achilles tendon to the one he did during training in the 2018 pre-season.

But Carlton confirmed on Monday afternoon he had only suffered the calf injury, having hoped on Sunday it might be the case after early indications from club doctors.

Even a normal calf injury can keep players out for three or four weeks but the Blues will be confident Williams can return to make a difference in the finals.

Carlton head of football Brad Lloyd said on Monday the Blues were thrilled to get the prognosis despite him missing as many as three months.

Carlton's Zac Williams goes down injured against the Giants. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“We took the time to get Zac back to Melbourne and get a scan today to assess the injury fully, which unfortunately has confirmed he will be out of the side for an extended period,” he said.

“Zac is understandably disappointed given the work he’s done to get himself playing good football and performing an important role as part of our back six.

“We’ve had a number of personnel changes over the opening nine rounds but to the players’ credit they have adapted and there will be another opportunity for someone to step up and take their chance at senior level.”

Carlton is still without Marc Pittonet (PCL) and Harry McKay (knee injury) for some time but hopes Liam Stocker (shoulder) and Jack Martin (calf) could be available this week or next.

The Blues take on Sydney on Friday night at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans challenging the one-week ban of James Rowbottom after he hit Essendon’s Zach Merrett high in the win over the Dons.

Why this win was different for the Blues

Carlton is hopeful star playmaker Zac Williams has dodged a season-ending achilles injury.

The speedster will have scans on Monday to determine the severity of his left lower leg injury after collapsing to the turf in the 30-point win over GWS Giants.

It was a huge victory for the Blues without star forward Harry McKay which propelled Carlton into fourth spot ahead of Friday night’s clash against Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium.

Williams ruptured his right achilles in 2018 and would face another long layoff of up to 12 months if he was struck down again by the same injury.

But Michael Voss said the Blues’ medical staff were hopeful Williams had instead suffered a less serious calf injury.

“We will get that assessed and see what the damage is from there,” Voss said.

“It is tentative (not an achilles injury) but we are hoping for a little bit of luck.

“He is really disappointed because he had a great preseason and he started the season really well for us and had an important role.

“He is obviously upset (about the injury) so we are hopeful the news isn’t all too bad but things haven’t all gone in our favour this last little while so we will just wait and see.”

A dejected Williams was on crutches and wearing a moonboot after the game as both teams paid their respects with a guard of honour for departed GWS coach Leon Cameron.

Williams crumpled to the turf as he ran towards a contest when he went down in the second term and required help to leave the ground.

The victory was another major step forward for the Blues who continued their remarkable turnaround under Voss with the club’s first win in five attempts at Giants’ stadium.

“It was a significant win for us,” Voss said.

Williams receives attention from the trainer after his latest setback. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“When you take into consideration the story around the game and the significance for GWS and Leon as he has been an incredible servant to the game.

“So that and the loss of personnel during the week and we have had a couple of weeks where we haven’t had a lot of luck in that area.

“But we had a different group come in and we won a different way so it makes it really significant and I’m really proud of the club because you just have to get on with business.”

The Blues played a smaller forward line and jumped out to an early four-goal lead.

Without McKay the Blues had 10 individual goal kickers, while Lochie O’Brien (22 disposals and 672 metres gained) played his best game for the club after narrowly surviving the club’s list cuts last season.

Voss also hailed his back line for standing up despite the absence of first choice defenders Lewis Young, Mitch McGovern and Oscar McDonald.

“I’m really proud of the way that they have gone about it because they haven’t complained about what they don’t have, they have just got on with the job and we have spoken about the next man in and we have needed a few of those conversations,” he said.

A distraught Williams is helped from the field. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Sam Docherty helped seal the win with a long late goal sparking jubilant scenes among his teammates while Charlie Curnow was also important late with a high mark.

Voss said Curnow played a crucial role as the main key forward.

“He brought the ball to ground when he needed to and the game started to open up for him really late and hit the scoreboard,” he said.

“He gets lauded for the six goals he kicked last week but internally for us that was a massive game from Charlie (against GWS).”

After Friday night’s clash against the Swans, Carlton play three-straight games at the MCG against Victorian rivals Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond.

Giants disappoint in Cameron farewell

It was meant to be a day of celebration for Leon Cameron’s GWS tenure but a stirring Carlton performance on the road has ensured the Giants coach’s nine-year stint at the club ended on a sour note as the Blues ran out 30-point winners.

In their first ever win at Giants Stadium, which elevates them back into the top four, Carlton was ultimately able to capitalise on a sensational start to the game to set-up a victory only marred by a seemingly serious achilles injury to Zac Williams.

They quelled any emotion the Giants, who are now two and seven, were keen to play with in honour of Cameron, and perhaps summed up their current state as the Blues jumped out to a four goal to nothing lead early in the first term.

Jack Silvagni celebrates with Charlie Curnow and Zac Fisher after kicking a goal. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“That was a significant win for us,” Carlton coach Michael Voss said.

“If you take into account the story of the game and the significance of Leon for this football club, I’m sure they would have been keen to send him out on the right note. The way he played tonight was a real step forward for us,” he continued.

“Credit to Carlton, we haven’t been beaten like that in our contested ball for a while,” Leon Cameron said.

“I said to the players it’s a really disappointing way to finish but I said to the players don’t be despondent but we’ve been in some tough times before so they’ll come out of it, they’ll be fine.”

At one stage Carlton had managed fifteen inside 50’s before the Giants had delivered just one of their own.

Giants coach Leon Cameron leaves the field through a guard of honour after his last match. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Sam Walsh kicked two of those majors in the first quarter as he produced a best on ground display with 31 touches.

He was well supported when it came to winning the inside ball by the in-form George Hewett who collected 29 touches and eight clearances and his brilliant skipper Patrick Cripps who had 26 possessions and seven clearances.

The Giants would work their way back into game however led by Braydon Preuss in the ruck, co-captain Josh Kelly with 36 touches and a goal and the precocious talent is Sam Taylor down back who again showcased his defensive quality.

Taylor would keep Charlie Curnow goalless until three quarter time but fresh off his six-goal effort last week, Curnow would strike twice in the early stages of the last quarter, including one effort from a big pack mark, to kick the Blues out to a critical three goal break that they managed to extend by the final siren.

Cameron stops to embrace Zac Williams, who played with the Giants before joining the Blues and could be out of action with a torn achilles. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

A BATTLE TO SAVOUR

In the absence of Harryu McKay, Charlie Curnow was the chief target in attack for the Blues which meant Sam Taylor was given the job of trying to quell his influence which he did superbly. Curnow presented strongly all game and brought his smalls into play and while Taylor led the way down back for the Giants to only enhance his All-Australian credentials, Curnow’s two final term goals were instrumental in the win.

MOSQUITO FLEET

And when Curnow wasn’t marking the ball he was bringing his smalls into the game and they would prove instrumental for the Blues, most notably Zac Fisher who had 18 possessions, many of which proved dangerous, and two goals. Cory Durdin was similarly effective with 19 touches and two majors while Lochie O’Brien is starting to deliver on his top 10 pick potential finishing with 22 possessions and a major.

JESSE’S DAY

Another highlight of the Blues big win was debutant Jesse Motlop. The son of former Kangaroo and Port star, Daniel Motlop, he would finish with 9 touches and a memorable first goal in his first game in the third quarter that was savoured by his teammates and the gathering of around 20 friends and family in the crowd.

Coach Michael Voss congratulates Patrick Cripps after wining their first game ever at Giants Stadium. Picture: Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos/via Getty Images