The Hawthorn premiership player has yet to finalise a deal with the Central Highlands Football League club midway through the second season of his two-year term.

Williams, who joined the Blues in a playing capacity in 2012, said he hasn’t engaged in formal talks about a new contract and admitted there had been other offers closer to his home in Melbourne.

However, the 32-year-old said ideally he would like to remain a Blue in 2016.

“That would be the preferred option. Ballan would be my first port of call,” he said.

“We’ve got a really young list and got some really good young up-and-coming players. 

It would be good to consolidate on what we’ve got.”

Williams took over the coaching role from Darron Batties when he departed the helm late in the 2013 season, leading the Blues to ninth place on the ladder in an improved 2014 campaign. 

He has guided Ballan to four wins from the opening seven games this year.

The two-time leading goalkicker at Hawthorn booted 46 majors in the Hawks’ 2008 premiership season, including five in the preliminary final 

win over St Kilda and three against Geelong in the decider. 

He also played four matches for Essendon before calling an end to his AFL career.

Ballan president Billy Smith said the club was keen to lock in Williams for another “long-term” contract and expected a deal to be finalised in the coming weeks.

“We’ve had informal talks, so we just need to formalise it,” he said.

Ballan resumes its campaign after the competition-wide bye with a trip to Newlyn on Saturday.

tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au