Collingwood's Marley Williams stands down from footy

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Williams left the Magpies training camp at the Gold Coast on Friday morning, with a statement from Collingwood later revealing the 20-year-old opted to remove himself from football after debate has raged as to whether or not he should be playing in the first five matches of the season.

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According to the release, Williams' decision was 'made in consultation with all of the other relevant parties, including health and legal professionals, Marley's management, the AFLPA and AFL'.

"At the moment I'm devastated," said Williams in the statement.

"I'm in a situation I never imagined I would be in and trying to work through the challenges of that while trying to play is something I'm struggling with.

"I made a mistake, and I'm sorry for that. I've attempted ever since to do the right thing and the right thing for me, my family, friends and everyone else is to have some time out.

"The strain on my family and the distraction this has created for the club is something I'm not comfortable with."

Williams will continue to train with the side until being sentenced in Western Australia after being convicted for GBH last week following an incident in December 2012 in the WA coastal town of Albany.

The GBH conviction carries a possible maximum jail term of 10 years.

Speaking from the Gold Coast, former Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell said the issues surrounding Williams had not been a distraction to the Pies ahead of their final practice match against the Suns.

"Basically (we have just been telling) him we're there for him," Maxwell told the AFL website.

"There's not much you can do. If he wants to come and have a chat to you he can, if he doesn't, and wants to keep it to himself, then he does.

"All you can do is be there and offer that support and if he takes it up, he takes it up."

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