Paul Williams (Australian rules footballer)

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Paul Williams (born April 3, 1973) is a former Australian rules footballer with both Collingwood and Sydney.

Williams began his AFL career with Collingwood, joining them from Tasmanian club North Hobart. Playing in a number of positions ranging from half back to half forward, the tough-tackling Williams was a regular in the mostly unsuccessful Collingwood side of the late 1990s, racking up 189 games and kicking 223 goals (his best being 6 against Carlton in 1996). However, at the end of the 2000 season, he was traded to Sydney for two draft picks. There, he immediately made an impact, winning two consecutive Bob Skilton Medals in 2001 and 2002, as well as being selected in the All-Australian team of 2003.

During a 2004 match against the Brisbane Lions, which the Swans lost, Paul Williams got three Brownlow Medal votes.

[edit] Later career

In 2005, Williams played in the Swans' premiership side. In doing so, he established an AFL record for most matches played by a player before being in a premiership side, with the grand final having been his 294th game.

On May 13, 2006 against Richmond, Williams became the 45th player to play 300 games, which was a 118-point victory to the Swans.

[edit] Retirement

On June 21, 2006, Williams announced he would be retiring at the end of the 2006 premiership season, which was his 16th at AFL level (and 6th with Sydney). Reasons cited for his retirement were the fact that his family was based in Melbourne, and that more opportunities for selection to younger players such as Tim Schmidt and Paul Bevan was important for the club.

On July 11, 2006, coach Paul Roos reported at a press conference that Williams was a chance to be rested for the forthcoming game against West Coast. Hours later, Williams announced his retirement, effective immediately due to surgery required on a broken collarbone, not seeing out his initial promise to retire at the end of the season.