Rhys Williams puts Melbourne Victory first as he rules himself out of A-League grand final

Injury has struck at the worst possible time again for Rhys Williams with the Melbourne Victory defender ruling himself out of the A-League decider.

Williams was a late withdrawal from the semi-final against Sydney FC as the 29-year-old injured his calf in the warm-up and was replaced by Stefan Nigro. 

Having previously suffered two serious Achilles injuries, Williams knows the devastation of an injury all too well and though desperate to play on Saturday against Newcastle Jets, accepted he had to put the team first after chatting with medical staff.

"They said I can have an injection to take away the pain, but it’ll take away the power,’’ Williams told the Herald Sun.

"I didn’t want to let the team down, needing to come off after five minutes if something goes wrong – it makes it easier for the team and the players to prepare.

"I would’ve run the risk of hurting other things and it was the same side as Achilles (which he tore twice), it was too much of a risk."

The injury all but rules Williams out of a potential World Cup call up for the Socceroos with the Victory defender also forced out of the past two tournaments because of injury.

In further bad news for Victory, young star Christian Theoharous is also in some doubt for the final after injurying his ankle late in the match against Sydney FC.