Craig Williams (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
Craig Williams is a former Australian rules football
er who played a season with in the VFL
. He also played for West Adelaide in the SANFL for the entire 1980s.
St Kilda recruited Williams from VFA club Prahran and he played eight games in the 1977 VFL season
. He left St Kilda at the end of the year and crossed to Fitzroy but failed to make the seniors again, spending two years with Fitzroy's reserves.
Williams moved to South Australia
in 1980 where he joined West Adelaide and would be a regular fixture in their side for the rest of the decade. Under legendary coach Neil Kerley
, Williams was a member of West's 1983 premiership side that defeated Sturt. He started the 1983 SANFL Grand Final in the Forward pocket
and had stints in the ruck
throughout the game. During the second quarter of the game at Football Park Williams dislocated the Ring finger
on his left hand which was said to be "at right angles to where it should be". Despite this, Williams returned to the game in the 2nd half and helped The Bloods win their first (and so far only) premiership since 1961.
Craig Williams represented his adopted state in State of Origin and won a Fos Williams Medal
for his performance at fullback
against Western Australia at Football Park in 1983. In the same year he was also selected as an All-Australian. Other positions that he played in during his career included the ruck
and various key positions
.
Williams is regarded as having his best game of club football in Round 21 of the 1982 season when West Adelaide defeated Sturt by 2 points at the Adelaide Oval
. Playing fullback on champion Sturt Full-forward
/ruckman Rick Davies
It was expected that Davies would take his usual number of marks and kick a few goals. By the end of the match Davies had failed to take a mark opposed to Williams who played from in front of the "Jumbo Prince" and didn't give an inch in body contests. For his efforts Williams was judged best on ground.
Craig Williams retired following the 1989 SANFL season in which West Adelaide failed to make the finals. He played a total of 160 games for The Bloods and kicked 50 goals.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played a season with in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. He also played for West Adelaide in the SANFL for the entire 1980s.
St Kilda recruited Williams from VFA club Prahran and he played eight games in the 1977 VFL season
1977 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1977.-Grand final:North Melbourne drew with Collingwood 9.22 to 10.16 , in front of a crowd of 108244 people. A replay was held, and North Melbourne defeated Collingwood 21.25 to 19.10 in front of a crowd of 98366 people...
. He left St Kilda at the end of the year and crossed to Fitzroy but failed to make the seniors again, spending two years with Fitzroy's reserves.
Williams moved to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 1980 where he joined West Adelaide and would be a regular fixture in their side for the rest of the decade. Under legendary coach Neil Kerley
Neil Kerley
Donald Neil Kerley OAM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. Known to his mates as either Neil or Knuckles and to South Australian football fans as King Kerley or simply "Kerls", he is best known for taking three clubs to four SANFL premierships over three decades as both a...
, Williams was a member of West's 1983 premiership side that defeated Sturt. He started the 1983 SANFL Grand Final in the Forward pocket
Forward pocket
In Australian rules football, the forward pocket refers to a position on the field deep in offense.Forward pocket players, situated in the forward line, need to have good avoidance and goal sneak skills and usually, quality forward-pockets are noted for their agility and ability to score difficult...
and had stints in the ruck
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
throughout the game. During the second quarter of the game at Football Park Williams dislocated the Ring finger
Ring finger
The ring finger is the fourth digit of the human hand, and the second most ulnar finger, located between the middle finger and the little finger. It is also called digitus medicinalis, the fourth finger, digitus annularis, digitus quartus, or digitus IV in anatomy.- Etymology :According to László A...
on his left hand which was said to be "at right angles to where it should be". Despite this, Williams returned to the game in the 2nd half and helped The Bloods win their first (and so far only) premiership since 1961.
Craig Williams represented his adopted state in State of Origin and won a Fos Williams Medal
Fos Williams Medal
The Fos Williams Medal has been awarded since 1981 to the best Australian rules football player from South Australia during Inter-State or Inter-Competition matches. The medal is named in honour of legendary South Australian National Football League player and coach Fos Williams.Originally the...
for his performance at fullback
Fullback (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, the fullback position has traditionally been a purely defensive role, with the aim of preventing the full-forward from marking the ball and scoring. However, in recent times, where the ability to move the ball out of defence and down the field quickly has become a more...
against Western Australia at Football Park in 1983. In the same year he was also selected as an All-Australian. Other positions that he played in during his career included the ruck
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
and various key positions
Key position
In the sport of Australian rules football, a "key position" refers to positions on the ground that are considered vital to the structure of a team.Key position players make up what is known as the "spine" of a team...
.
Williams is regarded as having his best game of club football in Round 21 of the 1982 season when West Adelaide defeated Sturt by 2 points at the Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
. Playing fullback on champion Sturt Full-forward
Full-forward
Full-forward is a position in Australian rules football and Gaelic football with a key focus on kicking goals.Leading full-forwards of the Australian Football League are usually among those awarded with the Coleman Medal for the most goals in an AFL season....
/ruckman Rick Davies
Rick Davies (footballer)
Rick Davies is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Sturt and South Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League and in the Victorian Football League...
It was expected that Davies would take his usual number of marks and kick a few goals. By the end of the match Davies had failed to take a mark opposed to Williams who played from in front of the "Jumbo Prince" and didn't give an inch in body contests. For his efforts Williams was judged best on ground.
Craig Williams retired following the 1989 SANFL season in which West Adelaide failed to make the finals. He played a total of 160 games for The Bloods and kicked 50 goals.