ZAC WILLIAMS tried his best to twist Leon Cameron's arm, but the gun defender admits the Greater Western Sydney coach made the right call to leave him in the NEAFL for the club's final round of the home and away season.
Williams ruptured his Achilles in January and looked set to miss the season after undergoing surgery, but after two solid matches in the reserves he looks certain to be picked for his first senior game in the Giants' elimination final against Sydney on Saturday week.
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GWS officials told AFL.com.au that the attacking half-back blessed with blistering speed and power, has not only got back to the levels he showed pre-injury, he has "surpassed" them.
The 23-year-old made a long-awaited return to the field with 30 possessions and 10 tackles against the Swans two weeks ago, but Cameron resisted the urge to test Williams at AFL level against Melbourne in round 23.
The day before GWS was dismantled by the Demons at the MCG, Williams gathered 37 disposals against Brisbane, and said his hit-out at the lower level has him primed to have an impact if Cameron picks him next week.
"After my first game I was in his office nearly every day pestering him," Williams said.
"But he made the right decision, I got more game time in the NEAFL than I would have in the AFL, so that’s going to hopefully help me next week.
"I've done all the hard work over the past three months and put in a mini pre-season, I've played against some really good opposition in the Swans and the Lions, so I feel ready to go.
"Those games have been good for me to get my confidence back and show me I can get back to the level I need to."
In Williams' absence, the Giants chose Lachie Whitfield to step into his role across half-back, and the move was a masterstroke after the former wingman was named in the 2018 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian side on Wednesday night.
Williams has been working closely with his good mate on game day, and said the representative honour was well deserved.
"He's done a magnificent job and been unbelievable all year," he said.
"Teams have tried to sit players on him and stuff like that so it's been a learning curve for him, but he's played some outstanding football and it's been good to see."
The inclusion of Williams, along with the form of fellow dasher Adam Kennedy, comes at a perfect time for the Giants, with veteran Heath Shaw gone for the year with a serious knee injury.
The experience of Collingwood's 2010 premiership star Shaw, who returned to the club this week with his left knee in a heavy brace, will be important for Williams, Whitfield and Kennedy, ahead of their crucial clash with the Swans.
"He just walked past me and told me I've got some big shoes to fill," Williams said with a laugh.
"I'm sure over the next couple of weeks I'll be picking his brain, he's a great character around the club and one of my mentors."
