Excitement machine Williams ready for AFL dream

Tylah Williams made the move from Tambellup to Perth two years ago to join Swan Districts and to be part of the West Coast Eagles’ Next Generation Academy, and the excitement machine is on track to be taken in the AFL National Draft.

The 18-year-old grew up in the Great Southern town of Tambellup, but he knew to chase his football dreams he would have to move to Perth and he bit the bullet two years ago.

It was a big step for a shy kid from the bush, but he has embraced everything about it ever since including playing the past two seasons in the colts at Swan Districts, and being part of the West Coast NGA squad and even working at the Eagles’ team store.

He also played in the Western Australia 18s team this year, he made his WAFL league debut in a couple of games with the Eagles, and now is right on track to be picked up in this year’s AFL Draft.

For Williams, he would just be keen to bring some excitement as a small forward if he was to get the chance to join the AFL.

“The best thing I’d bring is probably my excitement I’d say with the on-field stuff I can do with my speed and everything,” Williams told SEN WA.

“I’ll just try to make the team better and do what I can when I get there, if I do get there. I had a new position this year and I came to really love it playing in that half-forward role.

“It’s been massive for me this year playing there and it seemed to keep getting better and better, and I’m loving it there.”

Tambellup is no stranger to being the home of AFL footballers either most notably with former Melbourne and Fremantle star Jeff Farmer hailing from there, and Williams just tried to keep busy when he was back home.

“In Tambellup there’s not much there, but the things you do outside of school to entertain yourself is hanging out with all the family and cousins, and doing sports stuff whether it’s basketball or football or even just going out hunting and all that stuff in the bush,” he said.

“Most of the time we go and find kangaroos, sometimes ducks and even emus if you come across them.”

It was back at the end of 2023 when Williams and his family decided the time was perfect for him to make the move to Perth to chase his football dreams.

He immediately joined Swan Districts and it was daunting to start with walking into a place he knew nobody at, but he can’t speak highly enough of how welcome he was made feel by coach John Armstrong from the outset.

“I made the move when I was 15 at the end of 2023 I think it was and I sort of got asked by my mum and her sister if I wanted to make the move to Perth to see how it would turn out,” Williams said.

“I’d say so far, so good. I’ve really enjoyed my time at Swans too and the most influential person for me there has been the coach, John Armstrong.

“Being there last year as a quiet kid and going into the club not knowing anyone really, as the time went he introduced me to the staff ad players and everyone, and made me feel comfortable around the club and made me feel better. That made me want to be at the club and play my best footy.”

Williams also joined the NGA with the Eagles not long after making the move to Perth and was glad to have that to help his development on top of what he was getting at Swan Districts in the colts program.

“With the Next Generation Academy, most people join at the age of 12 or 13 but I didn’t join until after I moved to Perth and it would have been March 2023 or somewhere around there,” Williams said.

“You just have normal training sessions with about 30 other blokes but then as you get older they pick out the best of the best, and I guess put you in your own category with your own academy things.

“There’s a couple of us boys this year and last year who are also in the futures squad which is an important part of your development to help you become the best footballer you can be.”

While Williams would still be happy for any AFL club to pick him up in the draft, given he’s already trained with the Eagles, played in their WAFL team and worked at the team store, he would feel right at home if he became an official AFL-listed player.

“All throughout this year I’ve been going in and out of the club whether it’s for work or training, and the more and more you go in the more you see the players and you build that connection with everyone,” Williams said.

“That can be the staff, players, past players or anyone really, even some of the customers when they come in and they remember your face.

“I’d say if I was to go to Eagles I’d be pretty comfortable because even just playing alongside some of them in my league games this year, and going into training once every week let’s you meet everyone and see what they’re like, and it helps you feel more and more comfortable.”