Tom Williams (Australian rules footballer)

Infobox afl player | firstname = Tom
lastname = Williams




birthdate = birth date and age|df=yes|1986|7|17
birthplace =
originalteam = Morningside Panthers
heightweight = 196cm / 98kg
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = 21 April 2007
debutteam = Western Bulldogs
debutopponent = Richmond
debutstadium = MCG
playingteams = Western Bulldogs (2005-)

17 games, 1 goal

coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = Round 11, 2008
careerhighlights =

*AFL Rising Star nomination (Round 18, 2007)

Tom Williams (born 17 July 1986) is an Australian rules footballer with the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League. Drafted with the 6th pick in the 2004 AFL Draft, Williams was a late convert to Australian Rules, having been an all-round sportsman, playing representative rugby union for Queensland in U-18s.

Tom's father Steve played for the Parramatta Eels in the New South Wales Rugby League between 1975 and 1976 and was a co-founder of the Brisbane Broncos. [AFL Record Round 19, 2007. pg 74]

Williams was identified as a talent by Mark Browning, former Sydney Swan turned AFL Queensland talent manager. He was rushed into the 2004 Under 18 championships having played just 15 games of Australian rules football, from which he was taken as the Bulldogs first round pick in the draft.

Despite having broken his ankle three times since joining the club [Lange, G., [http://westernbulldogs.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/4112/Default.aspx?newsId=41494 Williams & Harbrow to debut] , Western Bulldogs Football Club, 19 April 2007. Retrieved on 23 April 2007.] , Williams has shown promise of becoming a key position defender, giving the club plenty of reason to keep him on the list.

Williams made his debut against Richmond in round 4 of the 2007 AFL season where the Bulldogs registered a victory against Richmond. Willams played well enough to earn a NAB Rising Star nomination in round 18 [Witham, J., [http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/4112/Default.aspx?newsId=48809 Williams puts his best foot forward] , Western Bulldogs Football Club, 8 August 2007. Retrieved on 12 August 2007.] .

Victoria Harbour incident

On 4 October 2007, Williams and fellow team member Daniel Cross leaped into the water of Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong to rescue a woman attempting to commit suicide. The woman didn't want to be saved. They hauled her to safety after hearing bystanders screaming for help. When they emerged from the harbour they both had minor bruises and cuts. Both were reported to be in good spirits after the incident. [AAP, [http://www.theage.com.au/news/NATIONAL/Bulldogs-AFL-stars-to-the-rescue-in-HK/2007/10/05/1191091322320.html Bulldogs AFL stars to the rescue] , The Age, 5 October 2007. Retrieved on 5 October 2007.]

Following the incident, both Williams and Cross were awarded certificates of commendation by Hong Kong's Director of Marine [AAP, [http://westernbulldogs.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/4112/Default.aspx?newsId=54062Bulldogs Bulldogs awarded for bravery] , westernbulldogs.com.au, 5 December 2007. Retrieved on 5 December 2007.] .

References

External links

*Wbplayer|ref=14638
*AflRleague|ref=T/Tom_Williams1.html