West Coast ruckman Bailey Williams has turned his back on free agency and interest from his home State with Victoria to commit to a massive new contract with the Eagles.
On Tuesday, the club announced the 26-year-old had signed a six-year extension which will keep him in blue and gold until at least the end of their 2032 campaign.
The restricted free agent had earlier signalled his intentions to remain in Western Australia.
After starting the season out of the senior side following a summer interrupted by a groin issue, Williams has produced a career-best campaign since being called up for his side’s Gather Round clash with Geelong.
He ranks seventh in the AFL for hit-outs with 397, which have come at a career-best average of 28.4 per game.
Williams said he was “super excited and honoured” to have committed his long-term future to the club.
“I never really thought of leaving. I’ve been here for eight years now, drafted out of home at 18 years old and I feel like West Coast is home for me, so I didn’t feel the need to look elsewhere,” Williams said.
“I feel like my game has gone to another level. I can’t put it down to one thing, but obviously the new ruck rule helps.
“I did have a bit of an interrupted pre-season, but I feel like the work I did to get back and play footy has held me in good stead, and a bit of maturity.
“I’m 26 now, I did the hard yards as a young ruck for a while and footy is starting to feel fun and I’m really enjoying it.”
While Williams had garnered interest from a number of Victorian sides, he said he had never seriously considered a return to his home State.
“I’m obviously from Melbourne so the go-home factor was a little bit there,” he told ABC Extra Time.
“I think that was probably more outside speculation than anything.
“I was always looking to sign on and I was glad that the footy club and my manager could sort something out.
“My manager Rob D’Orazio made it really simple for me. It wasn’t too much of a hassle to get everything done.”
West Coast’s list management and recruiting boss Matt Clarke hailed Williams as a “really important signing for our football club”.
“While free agency always presents opportunities and challenges, both Bailey and the Club were keen to secure this partnership for the long term,” Clarke said.
“He has enjoyed a strong season and recently celebrated his 100th game for the Club, which is a terrific achievement.
“We feel Bailey has developed into a genuine lead ruckman who can help drive this group forward over the coming years.”
Williams joins star defender Reuben Ginbey, emerging tall forward Archer Reid and out-of-favour midfielder Elijah Hewett in being signed with the Eagles through until the 2030s.
West Coast — who have the competition’s largest list at 51 players — still have 15 players uncontracted beyond next year, although The West Australian understands backman Rhett Bazzo and mid-season draftee Marcus Herbert are in the midst of negotiations.
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