Robbo: Carlton has paid too much for ‘good ordinary’ Giant Zac Williams
After overpaying and over-committing to Mitch McGovern, is Carlton making the same mistake with Zac Williams? Mark Robinson says Carlton may have gone panic buying after missing recent big targets.
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The great Jack Dyer once said of Carlton’s forward dynamo Peter Bosustow he was a “good ordinary player”.
The great Leigh Matthews this week borrowed Jack’s famous line to describe Zac Williams, the so-called $900,000 free agent who will join the Blues for the 2021 season.
Speculation suggests Williams, 26, will sign a five-year deal.
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That’s roughly $4.5 million for a rebounding halfback with the potential to play midfield.
The Blues would argue he is worth the coin. He’s a ball-winner, a creator and pumps those legs through halfback and the midfield.
The Blues will also probably tell you to look at last year’ preliminary final against Collingwood, when Williams was arguably best afield in a rare full game in the Giants’ injury-ravaged midfield.
Yep, fair argument, but $900,000?
Rival club management who went fishing for Williams were gobsmacked with the asking price and equally gobsmacked the Blues have agreed to pay it.
“Who’s making this decision,” one rival official told the Herald Sun on Monday.
Matthews was also bemused by the salary being reported and pointed out Williams did not make this year’s All-Australian squad.
In fact, Williams has not been in an All-Australian team, nor has he been named in the 40-player squad in any season.
“Zac Williams isn’t in the All-Australian squad and, say it’s $800,000 or thereabouts … how many players you reckon in the All-Australian squad would be getting nowhere near that?’’ Matthews asked
“Why would anyone pay that kind of money?
“As old Jack Dyer would say a generation ago, he’s good average player.
“He’s OK, but he’s no superstar I reckon.
“How could Carlton justify paying him $800,000 for instance?
“Sam Walsh would have to be at least … and Cripps would have to be getting the same kind of money.”
Mathews made a strong argument on 3AW, but he was wrong to lump Walsh with Cripps and Williams because Walsh will be entering his third season next year and that kind of money for him would not be available.
The concern is: Have the Blues overpaid and over-committed to Williams, after overpaying and over-committing to Mitch McGovern (estimated $700,000 per season)?
The observation is: It’s a panic buy.
They offered Dylan Shiel in the million range and he knocked them back. They offered Stephen Coniglio the same and he knocked them back. And they had roughly 800k on the table for Tom Papley and he elected to stay in Sydney.
Williams was well liked at the Giants — by teammates and officials — and, if not for the insane offer from the Blues he would definitely stay.
The Giants’ offer was between $700,000 and $730,000 per season.
For some reason, Williams needed/wanted the extra cash, and the Giants were curious that the reason given for him leaving — that he wanted to be closer to family in Albury — wasn’t mentioned in discussions with his management.
The Giants believe he was shopped like a product on eBay and, in the end, the money was too good to be refused.
Unquestionably, Williams is about to face the fierce spotlight of being a big-money player in the frenzied Melbourne footy world.
There will be nowhere to hide.
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No one is doubting his talent. The question is whether Williams can cut it as a week-in, week-out midfielder, as the Blues hope him to be.
Firstly, he needs to get fitter if he is to join Cripps and Walsh in the middle and the negative on Williams north was the belief he wasn’t fully professional, that he would come back from the off-season always underdone.
He’s played some brilliant games but you can’t get sucked in by that Collingwood final.
It was wet, a stoppage game and did not require repeat gut-busting running to all areas of the MCG.
His reported salary is in the ballpark just below players such Nathan Fyfe, Patrick Dangerfield, Cripps, Dustin Martin, Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Neale, Nic Naitanui, Scott Pendlebury.
They are seasoned and elite players, champions.
Good luck to Williams for getting the contract, but his world is about to change.
The expectations, anyway.
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