SA Footy

PORT Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams has walked away from the AFL scene for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, choosing to accept a coaching position in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.

Williams will coach Premier B club AJAX in 2017 as part of a new position as director of coaching and development for Maccabi Victoria, the roof body for Jewish sport in the state.

In a major career change for an AFL lifer, he will work across 20 clubs, managing coaching and playing programs and fast-tracking the development of elite athletes across a number of sports.

Maccabi Victoria is one of the largest grassroots sporting organisations in Victoria, with more than 4000 members.

In a surprise move, Williams was let go by Richmond last month after four years as an assistant coach to Damien Hardwick and also with a key role in development.

Before that, he was Kevin Sheedy's key assistant during the formative years at Greater Western Sydney.

Williams coached Port Adelaide for 274 matches between 1999 and 2010, highlighted by the 2004 premiership win.

Williams played 135 games for Collingwood between 1981 and 1986 and was captain his last four years there. He then joined the Brisbane Bears and played 66 games in four years.

He also played and coached in the SANFL and was an assistant to Sheedy at Essendon in 1995 and 1996 before returning to Port as an assistant when the Power joined the AFL.

It is believed that Williams will become the first AFL premiership coach to coach in the VAFA.

Walked away from the AFL scene?
Or no one wanted him?
Either way good luck to him in the new role.
I'm not a Power fan but liked Choco when he was in charge at the Power.

Good on him and full marks to him for remaining in footy. I've heard a lot of good things from people that have met him, wish him all the best.

I respect many things about Port Adelaides history, anyone within the Williams family gets my respect. He was a great image of the club and SA football.

"MARK WILLIAMS"

AN SA ICON.

Possibly a bronze bust of him should stand somewhere around Adelaide Oval, with his father.

Dog_ger2 wrote:"MARK WILLIAMS"

AN SA ICON.

Possibly a bronze bust of him should stand somewhere around Adelaide Oval, with his father.

LOL

Dog_ger2 wrote:"MARK WILLIAMS"

AN SA ICON.

Possibly a bronze bust of him should stand somewhere around Adelaide Oval, with his father.

Fos Williams has a stand named after him at the new Adelaide Oval. Me, like Alberton Oval I'd have liked it to be the "Williams Family" stand as the whole family has contributed so much to South Australian Football. With Fos, Mark and now Stephen in the SA Football Hall of Fame no family deserves the accolade more.

Dog_ger2 wrote:"MARK WILLIAMS"


Possibly a bronze bust of him should stand somewhere around Adelaide Oval, with his father.

Like this?

Show no mercy.

Booney wrote:Mark and now Stephen in the SA Football Hall of Fame no family deserves the accolade more.

Dutchy wrote:

Booney wrote:Mark and now Stephen in the SA Football Hall of Fame no family deserves the accolade more.

Why so shocked? A father and two of his sons are in the SA Football Hall of Fame, is there a family who has contributed more to the game in this state?

I'm looking forward to your answer Dutchy.

Oatey and Cornes families?

Dutchy wrote:Oatey and Cornes families?

Whilst valuable contributors ( although you could argue the bulk of the Cornes families work was done in the AFL ) my comment stands, no family deserves the accolade more than the Williams Family.

Booney wrote:

Dog_ger2 wrote:"MARK WILLIAMS"

AN SA ICON.

Possibly a bronze bust of him should stand somewhere around Adelaide Oval, with his father.

Fos Williams has a stand named after him at the new Adelaide Oval. Me, like Alberton Oval I'd have liked it to be the "Williams Family" stand as the whole family has contributed so much to South Australian Football. With Fos, Mark and now Stephen in the SA Football Hall of Fame no family deserves the accolade more.

Don't forget Jenny......... she hates it when she is left out!

Booney wrote:

Dutchy wrote:Oatey and Cornes families?

Whilst valuable contributors ( although you could argue the bulk of the Cornes families work was done in the AFL ) my comment stands, no family deserves the accolade more than the Williams Family.

Must admit, as much as it irks me I also thought of the Cornes family. Whether the work was done in the AFL or not, your criteria was just "in this state". Reckon you could mount a pretty compelling case either way. For example, excluding state games and only considering their games when based here, it's 893 games to 652 as players.

Been a few other notable families, but to me these two stand above the others.

Stringers....

Dutchy wrote:Oatey and Cornes families?

And of course the Aish family and the Gallaghers at Norwood...

Gowans

Ebert