AFL and Carlton player Zac Williams signs up to become a registered organ donor after finding out his wife already was

The decision comes after several serious conversations with wife Rachel Lucas, who helped convince him it was the right move.

Zac Williams has kicked plenty of goals in his career as an AFL star.

But a recent shift off the field has lead him to quite a different goal in his personal life.

After a converstaion with wife Rachel Lucas, the Carlton Football player has signed up as a registered organ donor with DonateLife.

“I’m probably one of those people that have been oblivious for so long about organ donation,” Williams told news.com.au.

Lucas, a former Ballerina, was already a registered organ donor and helped encourage the former GWS Giant to do the same, along with other family and close friends.

“It was actually a very passionate conversation that we had about it,” Williams said.

“Hearing stories from people that have received organ donations and how it saved their lives, was really inspirational.

“I was pretty easily convinced that if you become an organ donor how much you can help others.”

Carlton star Zac Williams became a registered organ donor. Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

Williams made the decision after conversations with his wife Rachel Lucas, family and friends. Photo: Josie Hayden.

The pair, who married in 2024 share two children, son Beckham and daughter Ayla.

Williams’ decision to register as a donor comes as the median time people currently on the kidney transplant wait list has risen to 2.6 years.

The waiting period is dependant on individual’s blood type and location, but is significantly higher than the average wait time for a liver transplant which is eight to 12 months.

More than 200 Australians have died in the past five years waiting for a transplant, but there are concerns the figure may actually be higher as patients are removed from waitlists as they’re conditions worsen.

Williams has been a consistent member of Carlton this season despite their struggles. Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

Williams is speaking ahead of DonateLife Week which aims to raise national awareness about organ and tissue donation between July 27 and August 3.

Williams even let his good friend and rival AFL player from Port Adelaide Jeremy Finlayson know he’d made the move.

Finlayson’s wife Kellie was diagnosed with Stage four bowel cancel at 25 years old in 2021, after giving birth to their daughter Sophia just three months prior.

Not long later in 2022 after experiencing shortness of breath, it was confirmed the disease had spread to her colon.

Williams called friend and Port Adelaide player Jeremy Finlayson to let him know the news. Photo: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Finlayson’s wife Kellie was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancel just three months after giving birth to the daughter. Photo: Supplied.

Kellie has been receiving blood from donors helping save her life following surgeries and ongoing treatment.

Williams meanwhile is facing a tough uphill battle with a struggling Carlton side that have slumped to 12th in this season’s standings.

The 2013 AFL rising star has seen a positional shift at times and has been a consistent member of the squad.

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DonateLife is encouraging all Aussies to register as an organ and tissue donor in just 1 minute at donatelife.gov.au or via their Medicare account.