Mark Williams (AFL footballer and coach)

Mark Williams is the current coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League. He was also a star player with Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League, before joining Collingwood, where he rose to the position of captain of the club during the mid-1980s. After the 1986 season he left to become the first player to be signed with the newly-founded Brisbane Bears, and was named vice-captain to Mark Mickan.

Related Topics:
Port Adelaide Football Club - Australian Football League - South Australian National Football League - Collingwood - 1980s - 1986 - Brisbane Bears - Mark Mickan

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Mark Williams retired from the AFL during the 1990 season to return to Port Adelaide.

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After his playing days were completed he joined Essendon as an assistant coach, and in 1999 won the head coaching role at Port Adelaide, which had moved to the AFL in 1997 and renamed itself the Power. Port Adelaide topped the ladder at the end of 2002 and 2003, but losses in finals ruined their chances of winning the premiership. However in 2004 they again topped the ladder and Williams became Port Adelaide's first AFL premiership-winning coach, with the team defeating the Brisbane Lions.

Related Topics:
Essendon - 1999 - 1997 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - AFL premiership - Brisbane Lions

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Williams comes from a large and intensely proud footballing dynasty, closely aligned with Port. His father, the late Fos Williams, is often referred to as the father of the Port Adelaide Football Club.

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