Carlton defender Zac Williams out for season after suffering ruptured ACL

One of Carlton’s brightest stars has been struck down in devastating fashion and will miss out on the entire 2023 season.

Star Carlton defender Zac Williams will miss the entire 2023 season after rupturing his ACL during pre-season, the club confirmed Saturday.

Williams, who joined the Blues on a monster six-year deal in 2020 from Greater Western Sydney, suffered the injury in training on Friday.

He is expected to undergo surgery next week.

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It is not the first time the former Rising Star nominee has come close to serious injury, having missed more than half of the 2022 season with a high-grade calf strain and missing almost all of the 2018 season with a ruptured Achilles.

“These incidents are so unfortunate and we are all feeling for Zac, he could not have done any more this preseason to get himself ready for the year,” said Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd.

“He has had more than his fair share of bad luck with injury, Zac, but in that time he has built up a lot of resilience, which he will no doubt tap into, as we all support him on his road to recovery from here.”

Williams at full flight in December. Picture by Michael Klein

Heartbreaking news for the Blues. Picture by Michael Klein

The Blues also confirmed young forward Sam Philp has undergone surgery on a stress fracture in his foot, with his return to play still uncertain.

“We are all really disappointed for Sam, given how hard he has worked to get his body right over the last 18 months,” said Lloyd.

“He has faced some significant challenges during that time, and while this latest one is frustrating, we’ll continue to make sure as a club we are with Sam every step of the way.

“Given the nature of his injury, we will get a more definitive picture on Sam’s recovery timeline at a later date.”

Without key defenders to play around Jacob Weitering, and the absence of Williams, who at his best is among the competition’s elites, transition will be the biggest challenge for a Carlton side that boasts arguably the strongest inside midfield in the competition, but without major key support down back.

Carlton may look to their bevy of midfield riches and find that there is where their solution to their thinning backline lies, with George Hewett coming second last year in tackles.

The former Swan is equally adept at clearing the football and is extremely polished around the back of the contest, which might prove key if the Blues are to compete in 2023, a challenge that is already mighty with Sam Walsh already in the casualty ward.

Originally published as Carlton defender Zac Williams out for season after suffering ruptured ACL