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When Bailey Williams strolled into day one of pre-season training last November with a Western Bulldogs-branded backpack over his right shoulder, he looked like a new man.
According to assistant coach Rohan Smith, he was leaner, stronger and more confident than the player who had managed just nine senior games in 2019.
Having been named an emergency a further nine times, it’s little wonder the 41-gamer was tired of feeling like a loose screw in Luke Beveridge’s plans.
It wasn’t until almost two weeks after the club’s elimination final defeat to the Giants – which he missed selection for – that the club announced he’d re-signed until the end of 2021.Jolted by an ordinary year and a nervous post-season wait, the quietly spoken Glenelg product knew he had 24 months to get his career back on track — and he started immediately.
He returned to Adelaide in the break, enlisted the help of a friend, and pumped weights daily, bulking up almost five kilograms. He also ran more kilometres in six weeks than he had done for the entire previous summer.
Bailey Williams’ turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. Picture: Chris Hyde
Just 10 months later, Williams is statistically the most improved player in the AFL. According to Champion Data, he’s 194 per cent more influential than he was in 2019. In simple terms, he’s almost three times the player he used to be.
He averaged 3.6 Ratings Points per 100 minutes last year. In 2020, this number has skyrocketed to 10.6 per 100 minutes.
The turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. And he’s not done yet.
No wonder mentor, Dogs great and assistant coach Rohan Smith knew he was in for a treat back in November.
“He’d admit that in previous summers he’d come back a little bit overweight or not ready to start training,” Smith said to foxfooty.com.au this week.
Bailey Williams’ Bulldogs are pushing for finals. Picture: Michael Klein
“A young player might come out of pre-season and might not know how to push themselves. When he came back to pre-season training he looked like he had done a lot of work before we even started.
“He’s taken his training to another level.” Williams’ numbers reflect a player who finally feels comfortable at the top level.
He’s the ninth-highest rated general defender in the competition and has launched the equal most goals from his team’s defensive 50 in 2020.
As far as rebounding defenders go, there are few better. He has the 12th best kick rating for the top 100 players in the AFL and is in the top 10 for metres gained.
Remember, this time last year he was a fringe player at best. His career didn’t quite hang by a thread, but it wasn’t much thicker than a shoelace either.
“I’ve had the year that I’ve wanted to have,” Williams said to foxfooty.com.au ahead of Friday night’s crunch clash against Geelong.
“I had one of the best pre-seasons I’ve had since I’ve been here. Last year was a difficult year for myself. It is always difficult when you’re not in the ‘ones’ and not playing the footy you want to play. It was a hard year.
“But I love this club so much and all the boys so I backed myself to make the best 22. That’s why I had the summer I needed to have.
“I had to work on my endurance and repeat effort. It remains a focus for me. The more I can work on my tank, the better I will be.
“I have been running the most I ever have. I ran on Christmas Eve and rewarded myself the next day.”
Bailey Williams of the Bulldogs is in career-best form. Picture: Michael Klein
Smith notes how the 22-year-old sits discreetly towards the back in meetings, not wanting to draw attention to himself. But more experienced teammates such as Easton Wood and Daniel have been impressed by his increased willingness to deliver verbal instructions on the field this year.
It’s an element of his game which was effectively non-existent before 2020, illustrating Smith’s point that physical prowess breeds emotional confidence.
“He’s actually a really quiet kid. But you can see that he’s starting to grow in confidence,” the two-time All-Australian said.
“He was playing half back-flank over a few years and he was more about the offensive side of the game than the defensive side. He’s got the balance right now.”
Williams is yet to have a specific role on an opposition forward this year. It’s neither his or Beveridge’s style.
Bailey Williams of the Bulldogs is crucial to his side’s counter-attack from the back half. Picture: Chris Hyde
He also possesses a boyish innocence, noting how he enjoys golf in the hub but “is terrible at it.”
Just 54 games into his career, he still has to pinch himself when he comes up against childhood hero Gary Ablett and other Geelong stars.
He’s a Dog through and through now, but growing up he had a soft spot for the Cats and Crows, courtesy of his grandfather’s allegiance and his location.
Williams added: “Two years ago I played midfield against Geelong. That was a surreal experience coming up against Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield and Ablett. It was amazing.”
On Friday night, he won’t come face-to-face with Ablett or Selwood, but he’s certain to cross paths with Dangerfield and an in-form Tom Hawkins.
As a teenager, he once amassed 56 disposals in a 91-point loss. He was selected with Pick 48 in the 2015 National Draft just three months later.
Hollywood handball slammed
0:48
It says a bit about Williams’ under the radar personality that it’s taken some time for him to receive the accolades the numbers, his teammates and coaches maintain he richly deserves, not that a lack of external praise concerns him.
“I just enjoy going about my business,” he said.
“I was so oblivious when I got drafted. This year has made me realise just how much time and effort you need to put in. It’s a full-time job and if you want to be any good you have to be in the club all the time with meetings, recovery and training.
“I had a goal at the start of the year that I wanted to play every game. “I guess it is so far, so good.”
When Bailey Williams strolled into day one of pre-season training last November with a Western Bulldogs-branded backpack over his right shoulder, he looked like a new man.According to assistant coach Rohan Smith, he was leaner, stronger and more confident than the player who had managed just nine senior games in 2019.
Having been named an emergency a further nine times, it’s little wonder the 41-gamer was tired of feeling like a loose screw in Luke Beveridge’s plans.
It wasn’t until almost two weeks after the club’s elimination final defeat to the Giants – which he missed selection for – that the club announced he’d re-signed until the end of 2021.Jolted by an ordinary year and a nervous post-season wait, the quietly spoken Glenelg product knew he had 24 months to get his career back on track — and he started immediately.
He returned to Adelaide in the break, enlisted the help of a friend, and pumped weights daily, bulking up almost five kilograms. He also ran more kilometres in six weeks than he had done for the entire previous summer.
Bailey Williams’ turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. Picture: Chris HydeSource: Getty Images
And when he came home to Aberfeldie to prepare for day one of summer training, he kept the pace with housemates Caleb Daniel and Roarke Smith around a nearby park. Not even Daniel’s and Williams’ two rottweilers Barney and Hugo could keep up.Just 10 months later, Williams is statistically the most improved player in the AFL. According to Champion Data, he’s 194 per cent more influential than he was in 2019. In simple terms, he’s almost three times the player he used to be.
He averaged 3.6 Ratings Points per 100 minutes last year. In 2020, this number has skyrocketed to 10.6 per 100 minutes.
The turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. And he’s not done yet.
No wonder mentor, Dogs great and assistant coach Rohan Smith knew he was in for a treat back in November.
“He’d admit that in previous summers he’d come back a little bit overweight or not ready to start training,” Smith said to foxfooty.com.au this week.
Bailey Williams’ Bulldogs are pushing for finals. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
“This year he walked in the door and we were like ‘wow, he’s ready to go’. And he’s reaping the benefits for it.“A young player might come out of pre-season and might not know how to push themselves. When he came back to pre-season training he looked like he had done a lot of work before we even started.
“He’s taken his training to another level.” Williams’ numbers reflect a player who finally feels comfortable at the top level.
He’s the ninth-highest rated general defender in the competition and has launched the equal most goals from his team’s defensive 50 in 2020.
As far as rebounding defenders go, there are few better. He has the 12th best kick rating for the top 100 players in the AFL and is in the top 10 for metres gained.
Remember, this time last year he was a fringe player at best. His career didn’t quite hang by a thread, but it wasn’t much thicker than a shoelace either.
“I’ve had the year that I’ve wanted to have,” Williams said to foxfooty.com.au ahead of Friday night’s crunch clash against Geelong.
“I had one of the best pre-seasons I’ve had since I’ve been here. Last year was a difficult year for myself. It is always difficult when you’re not in the ‘ones’ and not playing the footy you want to play. It was a hard year.
“But I love this club so much and all the boys so I backed myself to make the best 22. That’s why I had the summer I needed to have.
“I had to work on my endurance and repeat effort. It remains a focus for me. The more I can work on my tank, the better I will be.
“I have been running the most I ever have. I ran on Christmas Eve and rewarded myself the next day.”
Bailey Williams of the Bulldogs is in career-best form. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
Those who know Williams best say he’s quiet, likeable and has a haircut and tattoo that make him a bit of a cult figure behind closed doors.Smith notes how the 22-year-old sits discreetly towards the back in meetings, not wanting to draw attention to himself. But more experienced teammates such as Easton Wood and Daniel have been impressed by his increased willingness to deliver verbal instructions on the field this year.
It’s an element of his game which was effectively non-existent before 2020, illustrating Smith’s point that physical prowess breeds emotional confidence.
“He’s actually a really quiet kid. But you can see that he’s starting to grow in confidence,” the two-time All-Australian said.
“He was playing half back-flank over a few years and he was more about the offensive side of the game than the defensive side. He’s got the balance right now.”
Williams is yet to have a specific role on an opposition forward this year. It’s neither his or Beveridge’s style.
Bailey Williams of the Bulldogs is crucial to his side’s counter-attack from the back half. Picture: Chris HydeSource: Getty Images
Having spent no more than 35 minutes on any one opponent, the freedom to intercept and rebound has suited him. Alongside recruit Alex Keath, the Dogs defenders are as agile and flexible as Gillon McLachlan’s oft-repeated edict. And Williams is the poster boy for it.He also possesses a boyish innocence, noting how he enjoys golf in the hub but “is terrible at it.”
Just 54 games into his career, he still has to pinch himself when he comes up against childhood hero Gary Ablett and other Geelong stars.
He’s a Dog through and through now, but growing up he had a soft spot for the Cats and Crows, courtesy of his grandfather’s allegiance and his location.
Williams added: “Two years ago I played midfield against Geelong. That was a surreal experience coming up against Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield and Ablett. It was amazing.”
On Friday night, he won’t come face-to-face with Ablett or Selwood, but he’s certain to cross paths with Dangerfield and an in-form Tom Hawkins.
As a teenager, he once amassed 56 disposals in a 91-point loss. He was selected with Pick 48 in the 2015 National Draft just three months later.
Hollywood handball slammed0:48
It says a bit about Williams’ under the radar personality that it’s taken some time for him to receive the accolades the numbers, his teammates and coaches maintain he richly deserves, not that a lack of external praise concerns him.
“I just enjoy going about my business,” he said.
“I was so oblivious when I got drafted. This year has made me realise just how much time and effort you need to put in. It’s a full-time job and if you want to be any good you have to be in the club all the time with meetings, recovery and training.
“I had a goal at the start of the year that I wanted to play every game. “I guess it is so far, so good.”
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