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Free agent Zac Williams can’t imagine playing anywhere but Greater Western Sydney

Leon Cameron’s future looked shaky at the same time as Stephen Coniglio considered his future but now the Giants believe they can sign up their three 2020 free agents as well as handing Leon Cameron a new deal.

Zac Williams celebrates a goal in the preliminary final win. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Zac Williams celebrates a goal in the preliminary final win. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Zac Williams says his long-term future is at the Giants as Greater Western Sydney grows increasingly confident it can secure its star trio of 2020 free agents.

The young indigenous star has become one of the Giants’ great success stories, fresh off a brilliant preliminary final display as the first GWS academy player to hit 100 games.

The Giants have just signed up Stephen Coniglio for seven years but given their age demographic now have Williams, Lachie Whitfield and Jeremy Cameron as free agents next year.

Not only does the club’s Grand Final berth mean Leon Cameron will secure a contract extension past 2020, it gives huge momentum to list manager Jason McCartney’s bid to keep his star-studded list together.

Williams’ manager Anthony McConville is open to his client re-signing over summer, and the 25-year-old told the Herald Sun he couldn’t see himself playing elsewhere.

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Zac Williams celebrates a goal in the preliminary final win. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Zac Williams celebrates a goal in the preliminary final win. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“They gave me my opportunity. I didn’t get drafted and they gave me the call up to come and train with them. Kevin Sheedy put me on the rookie list and went from there,” Williams said.

“I love it up here. Sydney is a great place to live. People might talk about how busy the traffic is but it’s actually not that bad.

“I haven’t even thought about next year. Coming off last year not playing at all and only playing two games, all I wanted to do was focus on footy and trying to play good footy.

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“It goes to show with the whole Stephen Coniglio stuff, every club would have wanted him but for him to stay and sign a seven-year deal to be a Giant for life shows how good the culture is here.

“The boys absolutely love it and I love being out here, so I don’t see myself leaving any time soon.”

The club’s pipeline of talent will continue even as they lose free agent Adam Tomlinson to Melbourne and former No.1 pick Jon Patton to Hawthorn, with academy star Tom Green set to go high in the top 10 at the draft in November.


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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/gws/free-agent-zac-williams-cant-imagine-playing-anywhere-but-greater-western-sydney/news-story/9d18431ec26886a9fe01238cbb6a527a