Ahead of his 150th senior game, Blues running back-turned-goalkicker Zac Williams says it's a milestone he wasn't sure he would ever reach.
First overlooked in the national draft, Williams arrived at GWS as rookie pick 54 in 2013 from Narrandera in New South Wales' Riverina.
He played 113 games with the Giants before a move south to Carlton after establishing himself among an emerging crop of young rebounding backs in the competition.
After a solid first year with the Blues, Williams missed the entire 2023 campaign after suffering a preseason ACL injury while also being confronted with family losses in "a year to forget", as he told Carlton's Summer Sessions podcast in February.
The 29-year-old said he would take the memory of his late sister onto the field with him with each game, and credited the footy club with being a support network through a tough period.
Speaking to Carlton media this week, Williams said his next milestone against Richmond on Sunday has been "a long time coming".
"I played my 100th game in 2019. So it's been a few years to get me to 150...but I think it's a pretty special milestone, especially after the last couple years," Williams said.
"I've got my whole crew coming down from home, so it'll be pretty special to be able to celebrate with them."
The 2024 season has also seen Williams impact on the scoresheet.
Williams said it's been "good fun" returning to the front half of the ground with the Blues in recent weeks, kicking 10 goals in five games - including four against the Gold Coast in round 11, since moving up the ground for Carlton's Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash with Sydney.
He said filling a role during his early days at the Giants started a career as a backman after junior days further up the park, but has quickly been "embraced" by the Blues forward line after Michael Voss shifted his magnet.
Currently sitting second on the ladder, and having missed just the one match to this point in the season, Williams is feeling the most settled he has felt at his second club.
"I guess the transition probably wasn't as smooth as I'd like it to be with injuries, COVID and obviously personal stuff in my family life as well. It was a bit chaotic," he said.
"I've just been able to have that consistency, and my family loving coming down on weekends...It's taken me a while to get to 150 over the last few years, but it's nice to get there. I never thought I would get to 150 at all."
Carlton meet Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.
