Dream home state AFL debut for Will

It was a debut 1233 days in the making and even then the call up to be named as the sub for Sydney’s Friday night Gather Round line-up was at the death knock as Will Gould battled a foot injury.

Given the decimation of the Swans defensive end with the McCartin brothers out with the concussion protocols and Dane Rampe suffering from a neck injury, the stars had aligned for Will’s call up to the big league but having been in a moon boot a week earlier and not in great form, the call up was anything but a certainty.

Of course, given Will was to be named the sub, a role only revealed one hour before the first bounce of any game, there is no footage of sharing the news with family and friends but Luke Parker’s jumper presentation tells you all you need to know about how the 22 year old Lucindale alumni is rated at the Swans.

“It’s a wonderful story – I think there’s not too a lot of guys have his persistence, patience and just being relentless with your effort to continue to drive your career and stick fat through some tough times,” Parker said. “The journey you’ve been on is an absolute testament to your character and ultimately I think at certain times in your career you’ve been really stiff that this moment has come sooner but I remember reflecting on your first game running out against the Giants in a practice match and you cleaned up Matt Buntine and I thought holy sh#!, I can’t wait to play with this bloke.

“Everyone in this room is so excited to be running out alongside you tonight – your family I’m sure are as proud as punch. “You finally get an opportunity and we can’t wait to see where your career takes you. We’ve got so much confidence in what you’re going to bring to this team.”

And in terms of when the sub usually gets a call up to the on field action, Will didn’t have to wait that long when Joel Amartey suffered a hamstring strain early in the second quarter and Will ran out onto the Adelaide Oval in front of family and friends who had scrambled for tickets and finding their way to the milestone game.

Will spoke post-game to Ben Waterworth, from Fox Sports, about his journey from pick 26 in the 2019 draft to last Friday night.

“It was unfortunate there were a couple of injuries last week, but to come home to Adelaide, my home state, and play in front of friends and family – it’s pretty special” Will told the Fox Sports journalist.

“It was just an awesome experience and it’s an absolute pleasure to play for the club.” A club that has always been clear with the Glenelg SANFL premiership player as to what he needed to do to be in contention for senior selection.

“The message (from coaches) has always been consistency and to be ready, because you never know when it’s going to happen – like this week,” he said. “It took a fair bit to go wrong for me to run out, but always being ready. Last year was the same: Compete and just be ready.”

While his AFL journey thus far has been anything but a fairytale – the chance to debut in his home state did fall into the fairytale category. “Even going out there in the warm-up, soaking it all in – it was nice to be back home,” he said. “It was a surreal feeling running out with the guys.”

Will (pictured during the traditional post-match Powerade shower for debutantes) finished with nine disposals and, not surprisingly, has a taste for more.

ON THE COVER: Will Gould & his family soak up his AFL debut