Malual, who boasts an enormous vertical leap and a wicked sidestep, was at that stage just one of 100 hopefuls trying to make the cut for the VFL Tigers.
The 22-year-old was on TAC Cup club Western Jets' list as a teenager and spent the 2017 season playing in the AFL Victoria Development League for the Northern Blues.
He competed in the Essendon District league last year and went on to win the best-on-ground medal for Airport West in the Division One Grand Final to kickstart his meteoric rise.
"The potential is there and there's been some (AFL) talk about him, but there are a lot of good people this time of the year – it's still very early days," Williams said.
"He's got great running ability, he makes good decisions, he's been winning one-on-ones, he's got really good football knowledge and poise, and he's a really good kick, so he's coming along well."