Paul Williams Pulls the Pin

[am Bays]

This will leave a big hole in the Swans midfield as he was a very classy distributor into the Swans forward line

Swans champion Williams retires from AFLJuly 11, 2006 - 6:55PM

Two-time Sydney Swans club champion Paul Williams quietly called full-time on a glorious 306-game AFL career on Tuesday after revealing he needed season-ending shoulder surgery.

After finally getting his hands on a premiership medallion in his 294th AFL game in last year's grand final against West Coast, the former Collingwood player has been plagued by injury this season.

Williams last month announced this would be his final season and coach Paul Roos was planning to rest the 33-year-old from this week's gruelling flight to Perth to play the second-placed Eagles at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

But less than three hours after Roos told reporters at the SCG that Williams would be putting his feet up on Saturday night, the sixth-placed Swans released a statement saying Williams had succumbed to injury.

"It's obviously a disappointing way to finish but I've got no regrets having played for two great clubs and winning a grand final," Williams said.

"The past few weeks have been hard as the shoulder has just got weaker and weaker and the x-rays today showed there's no option but an operation, the pin needs to come out and it needs to be fixed."

Roos was quick to paint the former Magpie as one of the star midfielders of his time, saying the former North Hobart star had been an "outstanding servant" to the game.

"I really feel for him in that he won't have the chance to be seen off the way he should be as a player," Roos said.

"But, in saying that, we as a club will make sure he is given the send off he deserves as such a great player, and I'm sure all the fans would also love the opportunity to show Paul what he has meant to them."

Williams played 189 games for Collingwood from 1991 to 2000, finishing in the top three of the club's coveted Copeland Trophy four times.

Battling financial woes at the time he was traded to Sydney, Williams showed remarkable professionalism in his new home to be Sydney's club champion in his first two seasons there and picked up All-Australian honours in 2003.

[Rik E Boy]

The old adage of 'you go out of football either disappointed or injured' rings true once again. When he recovers though, Williams can reflect on an outstanding career capped off with a premiership. Well done Willo.

regards,

REB

[Booney]

One of those unassuming players who managed 300+ games,won a flag and then in 5 years time he will have slipped out of our memory like,umm,you know and what-his-name?

Well done Williams,one of the great moves ever made in football by the bloke,leaving Collingwood,Im sure he never looked back.

[MightyEagles]

Then he is placed in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

What happened to the days of 'I'll retire on my on terms'.