Mark Williams Biography

Mark Williams, the son of the great Fos Williams, joins his father in being inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

"My childhood hero was John Cahill. I always had 14 on the back, which was his number," Williams remembers of a blissful childhood drowning in footy.

"We used to wear full kit to the games every week; lace up guernsey, shorts, socks and boots. We all had to look exactly like the players. It was crazy to think you could have those experiences around top-level footy as a child and us kids just loved it so much."

Mark Williams joins Melbourne as the club's head of development.

"Mark has proven over a long period of time that he has a great ability to develop people and maximise their full potential as a player. He's an incredibly passionate person who we think will do a sensational job at leading our development program," Melbourne's general manager of football performance, Alan Richardson, said.

"A major focus for Mark will be working with the younger players on our list and helping them take the next step in their footy careers."

Mark Williams will present the Jock McHale Medal to the winning coach of the 2019 Grand Final.

Dustin Martin's mentor Mark Williams has passionately defended the midfielder's decision to step away from a media conference to avoid questions about his contract status.

Martin took to social media on Wednesday night to defend himself against what he called "fake news" and speaking to SEN radio on Thursday morning, Williams, a former assistant coach at the Tigers, also slammed reports that Martin had stormed out of the press conference.

"When they (the media) asked him about his future straight away, he politely said 'I'm not going to talk about that, I'll talk about the ball', and they persisted again and persisted again," Williams said.

"He (then) politely walked off, he didn't scream, he didn't tell them off, he just said 'Well if you're not going to respect what I'm here for, what's the point?'

"To say he stormed off is a joke, he just walked off to the side and stayed there for another half an hour taking photos with people.

"The facts are that if you keep harassing him, he'll walk away, he won't fight.

"He's a very shy person so he gets to the point (where he thinks) just leave me alone.

"There's no doubt that he can match it with anyone in regards to discussion but he just avoids conflict."

Mark Williams walks 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.

Former Richmond assistant coach Mark Williams is surprised he wasn't offered a contract by the club for the 2017 season.

Williams was one of three support staff let go by the Tigers at the end of the season, ending a four-year tenure as head development coach.

"That was their decision, it was a bit tough," Williams told SEN radio.

"Based on my role and what I had done, I thought that I had done a pretty good job. And they all said that."

Mark Williams says he is keen to stay in the AFL system after being relieved of his duties as head of the Richmond's development program.

"I think the time I've been away from being a senior coach has really invigorated me and I love the anticipation of the next game at the end of the week," Williams said.

"Being in development is a passion of mine, being a teacher by trade, and I enjoy the challenge of helping players improve and reach their potential. "

Richmond has dumped three assistant coaches as part of its football department reshape, with premiership coach Mark Williams shown the door.

Williams, who joined the Tigers at the end of 2012 to head up the club's development program, was joined by forwards coach Greg Mellor and defensive coordinator Ross Smith.

All three were out of contract and victims of a wide-ranging review into the club's football department undertaken with the help of accounting firm Ernst and Young.

"We thank all of these coaches for their commitment to the club, its players and our football program, and we wish all of them and their families the very best for their future endeavours," football manager Dan Richardson said.

Mark Williams has been cleared of lymphoma, sparking jubilant scenes at Punt Road Oval on Thursday.

Williams, 56, was diagnosed with cancer in November last year, starting treatment shortly after and remaining in his role as senior development coach at Richmond.

He had scans on Wednesday that confirmed he had beaten the cancer, with Williams gathering the Richmond players on-field on Thursday and delivering the news before training.

Mark Williams is back working at Richmond after being diagnosed with cancer last month.

Williams, the Tigers' senior development coach and 2004 Port Adelaide premiership mentor, was diagnosed with lymphoma and has undergone testing to determine the extent of the problem.

"He's upbeat, as Choco always is," Richmond's general manager of football Dan Richardson said.

"He's still waiting on some final results of some testing he's had over the last week or so, and hopefully over the next week we'll know a little bit more."

Richmond assistant coach Mark Williams has been diagnosed with cancer.

"As we always do at Richmond, we'll support Mark and his family during this time," general manager of football Dan Richardson said in a statement.

Power chief executive Keith Thomas said Williams will be in the thoughts of the entire Port Adelaide community.

"The Williams family name is synonymous with Port Adelaide and 'Choco' is loved and revered by so many of our supporters, past players, volunteers, staff and administrators," Thomas said.

"Only a few weeks ago he returned to the club to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our first AFL premiership and as always he stole the show.

"On behalf of the entire Port Adelaide community we wish him well in his treatment."

Richmond development coach Mark Williams is the favourite to become head coach of the Saints but Tigers defender Dylan Grimes says he hopes Williams will stay at the club.

"Everyone knows what kind of a character Choco is and how much of influence he's had on us," Grimes told SEN radio.

"Every player at the club would not hesitate in saying that they would love him to stay on.

"We're a club that's looking to move forward and we're trying to bring everyone along with that challenge, so I'd love for him to stay and I hope he does."

GWS assistant coach Mark Williams says he will leave the club at the end of the season prompting Kevin Sheedy to suggest his decision to stay as head coach may have triggered Williams' decision.

"I think he's just one of the best teaching coaches I've ever worked with, there's no doubt about that," Sheedy said of Williams.

"To be quite honest, we have built up another three or four coaches in the group, and obviously he'd be disappointed not to get the head coaching job.

"But the club asked me if I would want to stay and I said yes, and if it's that decision that has frustrated him and he wants to go to another club, we've got no right to stand in his way."

GWS assistant coach Mark Williams has joined Richmond as a development coach.

"Mark has an outstanding pedigree as a coach, in particular with the development of young players, and we're thrilled to have him join our coaching group," Richmond football manager Craig Cameron said.

"We have worked hard to build an exciting playing list over the past few years, and we believe Mark will really help add to the progression of the group."

Essendon coaching candidate Mark Williams says not too many senior coaches have succeeded without previous experience after speculation mounts that the Bombers are set to name James Hird as their head coach ahead of him.

"There's not many that have succeeded that particular way," Williams said.

"Most people have gone the route of either coaching their own side [at a lower level] or have been assistant coaches for a long time. Leigh Matthews was an assistant coach while I was at Collingwood so he came through the ranks as well."

Essendon has confirmed it has met with former Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams about joining the club as an assistant.

"We knew Mark was in Melbourne today so Matthew (Knights) and I took the opportunity to catch up and see where he was at in terms of his career," Essendon general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said.

"We obviously have coaching positions available for next season following the resignations of Ashley Prescott and Scott Camporeale, and we will explore a number of options over the coming weeks to ensure we fill those positions with the best possible candidates."

Port Adelaide has announced that Matthew Primus will take over as caretaker coach of the club following the termination of Mark Williams' contract.

Port Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin says the playing group can't help but feels partly responsible for Mark Williams' sudden departure as coach of the Power.

"You can't help but feel guilty for some of the performances we've dished up this year and unfortunately it's always the coach that feels the wrath," Chaplin said.

"To Choco's credit, he's continued to try and get the best out of us and I think he has. He and the other coaches put in enormous hours to make us a better team.

Mark Williams resigns as Port Adelaide coach.

"I am leaving today because of illness and fatigue - the supporters have become sick and tired of me," he said.

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams says he is pleased to have Dean Laidley join the Power's coaching panel.

"I was desperate to try and get Dean to come," Williams said.

"We have great assistant coaches but in the scheme of trying to improve we wanted to get Dean, who has not only been an outstanding senior coach but also an outstanding assistant coach.

"He will challenge us and the way we actually play. There's a whole lot of things that are in Dean's coaching that aren't in ours.

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams says Brendon Lade's decision to become an assistant coach at Punt Road is a good move for the recently-retired ruckman.

"Ladey was a little unsure as to whether he would be ready to go straight away, but I know he's ready and within a second he'll prove that," Williams said.

"He has great knowledge of the game and has a personable way about him. He's a lot of fun."

Power coach Mark Williams says Dean Laidley had been offered a strategy and innovation role at the club.

"Dean has done some great stuff, which he can offer to us and also challenge us in what we do and how we do it. Speaking to the other coaches, they're excited to think that Dean might come here," Williams said.

Dean Laidley emerges as a potential successor to Mark Williams at Port Adelaide, sought as effectively a match-day coach.

''I've spoken to Mark several times about it over the last few weeks, and I'm going over there to sit down with him and the others to see how it's all going to work,'' Laidley said.

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams dismisses reports that he has yet to sign his new contract.

Assistant coaches Matthew Primus and Jason Cripps have both been offered extensions on their current contracts but are yet to sign.

"I've signed [my contract and] they've both been offered contract extensions," Williams said. "I hope they'll be here [next year]."

Port Adelaide captain Domenic Cassisi quick to quash speculation of unrest at Alberton saying that the players are completely behind their embattled coach Mark Williams.

"When Choco's contract negotiations were happening, every player that spoke to the media came out and said they were 100 per cent behind Choco, and that's no different now," Cassisi said.

"We are struggling at the moment. We've had some bad losses and we've left ourselves open to people criticising us from every angle.

"It's disappointing to hear people talk about the inner sanctum when they're not in it. They make a perception on it without being there and living and breathing it every day."

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams believes Damien Hardwick will be a senior coach next year despite reports that Hardwick is being considered for an assistant role at the Power.

"Damien is very qualified for that position. We love him at Port Adelaide and if the opportunity arises that would be great," Williams said.

"But I'm thinking Damien's looking at senior coaching positions at the moment and currently, as I read it, this one is not available."

Injured skipper Dom Cassisi uses a helmet to protect his injured head at the Power's training session before the clash with Fremantle.

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams says he is confident Cassisi's head will be safe from harm during the game.

"Under doctor's orders we looked after Dom at training today because he got a whack in the head on the weekend, but he'll be no worries," Williams said.

"The safest spot in AFL now is your head. If you've played a lot of footy you'll know that the number of times you get hit in the head, well, it's very, very rare.

"You back those odds and away you go."

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams has signed a two-year contract extension with the Power.

"As is well known, I have been very willing to take a cut in pay for the long-term good of the club given our financial situation," he said.

"There's also been speculation about various other parts of the contract. After actually walking through the clauses in the contract over the last couple of weeks it became obvious to me that they would be of great benefit for both the club and for me. So there is no disagreement there at all - quite the opposite.

"I'm really excited about our list and where we're at ... we are looking forward to a new era and are setting up the club with a long-term focus."

Dumped Peter Burgoyne has been given seven weeks to salvage his career.

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams yesterday put Burgoyne on notice by saying if he didn't find form before the end of the season he was unlikely to be offered a new contract.

"It will be up to how he plays until the end of the year," Williams said.

"He's fully aware of that. At the end of last year he knew he had a one-year contract, so it's important for him to go back (to the SANFL), freshen up and play some good games to get back.

"We'd be delighted to have him back in our side because a fresh and in-form Peter Burgoyne fits into our side very easily. We hope in a few weeks time he'll be back showing his best stuff again. If not ..."

Mark Williams says he will sign a new deal to coach Port Adelaide this week denying that issues with financial details in the contract were still to be sorted out.

"There's nothing to do with finances of the deal that are unsettled. Nothing," he said.

"It's just getting the little things right. There are a few things that need to be sorted through.

"It's a pretty major decision for both the club and for me moving forward, so you want to spend some time on it."

Chad Cornes is rapt that Mark Williams will remain coach of Port Adelaide.

"After 10 years you might think you'd get sick of having just the one coach, but it's the complete opposite for me," Cornes wrote in an article for AFL.com.au.

"I'm rapt that Choco is going to be my coach, hopefully, for the rest of my career.

"It was a relief on Tuesday to learn that he's going to be our coach for the next two years and to remove all the uncertainty hanging around the place."

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams appears likely to be retained beyond 2009, with the final verdict on his future to be announced today.

Mark Williams will continue as coach of Port Adelaide after a contract extension is confirmed this morning.

"Mark Williams has an outstanding coaching record and is a proven teacher of young players," club president Brett Duncanson said.

"He is highly respected at this club and in the football community.

"At the end of 2006 the club put in place a five-year plan and we are halfway through that period.

"Mark deserves an opportunity to see that plan through.

Power coach Mark Williams says he is honoured to get the opportunity to continue at Alberton Oval.

"It's been pretty tough to be under the microscope for that period of time. The club, wanted to find out if I was the person portrayed in the media and you have to tread a little carefully," Williams said.

"I'm respectful of the idea that the club had to go through a fair process because not too many people stay at a club for this long. I'm really honoured to think the club is willing to see this next period through where we've got some exciting young players coming through.

"We really think we can develop into a top-four and premiership side."

Dean Laidley will spend time at Port Adelaide, but Power coach Mark Williams doubts there will be a more formal appointment.

"I left a message on Thursday saying 'Listen mate, wait until you hear something before we work out what day it is', but it's this week some time," Williams said.

Mark Williams will coach Port Adelaide for at least two years subject to his accepting some tough non-negotiable conditions.

The club's board decided on Monday night to go with Williams, subject to him:

AGREEING to a pay cut.

DROPPING the "Ricky Nixon" clause from his contract; and.

FOCUSING purely on coaching.

Kane Cornes would not speculate on the future of Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams ahead of Monday night's decisive board meeting.

"It's been done to death and we all know where the situation's at. We'll just wait and see how it pans out," Cornes said.

"I'm not going to bother speaking about it today...there's no point. It will be settled soon enough."

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams admits there is a chance the Geelong match could be his last as coach.

Williams described the process, where his future had been debated widely in public as well as at Alberton, as "difficult", but defended the June 30 clause in his contract that pushed the decision to the mid-point of the season.

"It's a difficult one for both parties. I know it's been stated but it's probably been in my contract for 10 years, it's not just this year or the last one. The club agreed to it so it's not just me. The club thought it was sound management by them as well, so I'm very happy with it."

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams admitted Salopek might have been brought back too soon after dislocating his shoulder against North Melbourne in round seven.

"Sal is disappointed, but he actually understands. If you look at David Rodan a few weeks back, we dropped him and it doesn't mean we don't like him or that he's not part of our best 18, but we think it's what's best for him to get his mind right," Williams said on Friday.

"The shoulder injury does correlate to when his form has dropped down. Perhaps, the physical side was okay, but mentally he might not have felt as strong."

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams says he's just concentrating on beating Geelong this week, and is not worrying about his future despite a review by the club which he concedes has been 'difficult'.

"All I've thought about is working really hard with the players and the coaching group to beat Geelong and that's it. Footy's a bit like that, you tend to work week by week and that's as far as you go," Williams said.

Port Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin has added his voice to calls to re-appoint coach Mark Williams.

"I'd love for it to be Choco because he's been great in the six years I've been here," Chaplin said of the Power's next coach.

"Coming from a basketball background, he has taught me a lot about the game and he's been great for my individual development. He's put a lot of time into players and into the team as well. The preparation he puts in week in and week out is fantastic.

"No disrespect to any other clubs and I don't know what other coaches are like, but I'd probably say Choco is one of the best around."

Former Port Adelaide captain Warren Tredrea says Mark Williams should stay as coach as scrutiny increases on Williams' tenure at the Power.

"Mark's been marvellous for the amount of scrutiny and public opinion [he's been under]. He's training and coaching as hard as he ever has and even today he wheeled out a new plan for the rest of the season," Tredrea said.

"He's always thinking. It is probably a big focus for him in his life because it's his employment, but at the moment his sole focus is preparing his team to play as well as they can this week."

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams still wants his future resolved by June 30 and he will get his wish with a clear-cut decision.

"The time is right," he said.

"There are positives for both club and coach.

"The club can enter the market and not miss out on a coach by waiting until September while Richmond and North Melbourne are searching already."

Mark Williams is uncertain of his future as coach of Port Adelaide could go on for months with the team suffering from erratic form in 2009.

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams revealed midfielder Josh Carr asked for the pressure of a starting role in Saturday's game against Fremantle.

"He waltzed into my office during the week and talked about how he hadn't started on the ground once this season. He thought he needed that sort of pressure on him," Williams said after the game.

"I nailed him before the start of the game [and said], 'You better make the most of this opportunity'. He knew what the stakes were and it was good that he delivered."

Troy Chaplin responded to a rev-up from Power coach Mark Williams to play his best game for the season against Fremantle.

"From Monday's meeting with me" one-on-one" Troy was very much assured that he better play a hell of a lot better than he did and with a whole lot more desire and I thought he delivered that in spades tonight," Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams said.

"He got a cut on the eye and, as I said to him after the game, every time he looks at that eye he's going to remember one of the great games he played on a really courageous night."

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams says Josh Carr could resurrect his career against his old club.

Carr has not been in and out of the Power side since returning to Port Adelaide from Fremantle but has been selected to face the Dockers.

"The midfield was a little empty so we wanted to get Josh back. He's an aggressive player and there's a fair chance he understands and knows Fremantle better than anyone," Williams said.

"Josh went back and played last weekend. It was only in the twos, but he played really well, he's trained well and he's seemed up around the club.

"He looked like a pretty good choice."

Port Adelaide defender Jacob Surjan admits his side has let out-of-contract coach Mark Williams down with its roller-coaster start to the season after a disappointing loss to Collingwood.

"We really feel for 'Choco' and the coaching staff because we prepare so hard throughout the week to come up with plans to win the game," Surjan said.

"We're really upset with how that third quarter went on Sunday. We respect and love our coach so much, and it's definitely draining the playing group because we're letting him and the other coaches down."

Hamish Hartlett was one of very few positives for Port Adelaide in its heavy loss to the Swans on Sunday.

"That was one of the positives to come out of the game. He'd never been here before and he showed some great poise," Power coach Mark Williams said after the game.

"His goal in the first quarter was a fantastic kick under pressure when it looked like we were going to get nothing.

"It was nice that he went back and took control of it and kicked it through. He got a bit of possession, which is not bad and it's nice to have a little tick next to your name to say you played okay when the team was going poorly.

"I think it's a great trait and we hope to build on it."

Port Adelaide forward Daniel Motlop says Mark Williams has the full support of the players to continue coaching the club.

"Choco gave me my chance over here and I love him as a coach. He's been my best coach ever," Motlop said.

"None of the players are saying, 'let's get rid of Choco' or anything like that. Everyone loves him. We know where we're going and, hopefully, it's with him."

Port Adelaide's Kane Cornes will play against Richmond at AAMI Stadium on Sunday after making a rapid recovery from an injured shoulder against North Melbourne.

"Kane will probably need a jab, but you saw him train and he did everything we needed to see," Port Adelaide coach Williams said.

"He's a driven man and I wouldn't have backed too many people to get up for this week like he has. Kane wouldn't play if the club was in jeopardy and I'm not sure how many other players would’ve got up three times a night to look after himself."

Kane Cornes this morning need only lift his right arm above shoulder level to secure his place in the Port Adelaide line-up on Sunday.

"It's only because it is Kane," Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams said of Cornes.

"Most people would not be able to play but Kane wants to prove his shoulder is right."

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams says some of the charges laid against his runner were incorrect.

"If you've tried to be a runner it's quite difficult," Williams said.

"For a start, they're standing on the bench waiting for the other runner to come off. They might be trying to deliver a message to someone in the centre square to move forward and then they have to run and get the person that's up forward to come off. At the same time, there might be a ball-up on the opposite side."

Port Adelaide coach fuels speculation that he will not be at the club in 2010, saying a new contract is yet to be discussed.

Port Adelaide's Jackson Trengove could make his return to football via the SANFL since severely tearing his hamstring 10 months ago.

"Everything that we see from Hamish Hartlett, Jackson has got too," Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams said.

"He's got that intensity and that desire. He wants to be something and it won't be a lack of trying on his part that stops him."

Eddie McGuire has added Mark Williams to the Collingwood coaching debate as speculation on Mick Malthouse's tenure as Magpies coach continues.

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams says Warren Tredrea's six-goal haul against Melbourne on Sunday took fans, players and coaches alike back to the forward’s glory days.

Tredrea, 30, had not kicked a goal in the opening two rounds of 2009, but turned back the clock against the Dees at AAMI Stadium to finish with his best return in nearly four years.

The war of words between over Dean Brogan's suspension continued today, with Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams weighing in.

"My view is that two players walking - walking - and one bumps into the other one, yes he did it, he bumped him, but gee whizz, footy's getting a little precious," Williams said.

"It was pretty insignificant as far as I was concerned."