Carr, 29, has been in and out of the Power side this season and spent last weekend playing with the North Adelaide reserves because his SANFL side, Glenelg, had the bye.
After the loss to the Swans in round nine, Williams suggested Carr would need to spend some meaningful time in the SANFL to help rediscover some confidence and touch.
However Williams said injuries to tough nuts Chad Cornes and Matt Thomas had forced his hand in recalling Carr.
“The midfield was a little empty so we wanted to get Josh back. He’s an aggressive player and there’s a fair chance he understands and knows Fremantle better than anyone,” Williams said on Friday.
“Josh went back and played last weekend. It was only in the twos, but he played really well, he’s trained well and he’s seemed up around the club.
“He looked like a pretty good choice.”
Williams said Carr was “fully aware” of the importance of Saturday night’s game, both individually and from a team perspective.
“Josh wasn’t an automatic selection. If Chad or Matt Thomas weren’t injured he wouldn’t be playing and he knows that,” Williams said.
“Those opportunities come and some people grab them and never look back. Others let them slide by, so hopefully he can grab it.
“He’s one really good game away from staying in the side for the rest of the year.”
Young defender Nathan Krakouer is another player who’s hit a wall after a bright start to the season.
Williams said Krakouer, who has still only played 23 AFL games, was feeling flat.
“His [Krakouer’s] kicking hasn’t been as good as it might be and his running ability hasn’t been up there,” he said.
“At the start of the year he was really fresh. We gave him a week off a few weeks ago thinking that might freshen him up, but it hasn’t.”
An injury-ravaged Fremantle will debut Sandover Medallist Hayden Ballantyne and upgraded rookie Clancee Pearce this weekend.
Williams praised Fremantle’s capacity to hang in there against Richmond with an undermanned side last week and said Mark Harvey’s men were a team “on the up”.
“We’ve got quite an array of players out of our side too, so both teams aren’t absolutely at their best but both teams are working their way through it and making the most of their opportunities,” he said.
