Bailey Williams lived out every footy-loving kids’ dream when he ran out onto the MCG on Sunday afternoon as the Bulldogs’ third debutant of the 2016 season.
In front of almost 40,000 fans, the Bulldogs secured their eighth win of the season after defeating Melbourne by 32-points on the back a best afield performance from Marcus Bontempelli and a five-goal haul from Jake Stringer.
“It was amazing,” Williams told westernbulldogs.com.au in the rooms post-match.
“As soon as I ran out on the ground, my god… the atmosphere was pretty intimidating to start with but the boys got around me.
“I’ll never forget that, that was amazing.”
It was a sign of the confidence that Luke Beveridge has in the 18-year-old’s game when he went to Demon goal-sneak Jeff Garlett, on whom he did a more than serviceable job.
Williams also gathered 14 touches in his first senior outing, along with four tackles and five inside 50s.
And Williams’ footy smarts where also on display early when he pulled a kick at the last second to hit up teammate Toby McLean, who went back and goaled in the second quarter.
It was those early-game involvement that helped him settle in as well as some encouraging words from his senior teammates.
“As an individual I need a couple of little touches to get me going, so as soon as I got those I was able to relax a bit more and got into the game.
“[But] Boydy, Woody, most of the back six.. they were tremendous and just helped me through the whole game.”
You couldn’t wipe the smile off of his face in the rooms after the game, and why not, to run out on the MCG and be a part of a win in your first game, it’s what dreams are made of.