Melbourne let go of AFL icon Mark Williams just weeks after Simon Goodwin sacking

Much-loved AFL icon Mark ‘Choco’ Williams has been told his services are no longer required at the Melbourne Football Club.

The Port Adelaide premiership coach is an AFL cult figure, coaching the Power to their maiden premiership in 2004 and playing key roles in Richmond’s three-flag dynasty between 2017 and 2020, and Melbourne’s drought-breaking flag in 2021.

The left-field thinker started at the club at the end of the 2020 season.

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But as the Demons begin a search for a new coach following the sacking of Simon Goodwin, the 66-year-old has also been handed the sad news that he is not part of their future plans.

“I can tell you tonight that Mark Williams has been told that his contract will not be renewed at the Demons,” Kane Cornes said on SEN.

“He started there and was appointed Melbourne’s head of development in December 2020, and did a fine job, the premiership was clearly a highlight there.

Mark Williams won’t be at the Demons in 2026. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

“He’s the most impressive football person that I have ever worked with, and I can also tell you that he’s desperate to continue.

“He’s 66 years of age and still as determined and hungry for success as ever.

“His phone is on, and he’s ready to accept any opportunities in the AFL, and he’s still as passionate as he always has been.”

Williams’ experience is certainly vast and impressive.

He has worked under master-coach Kevin Sheedy at Essendon, but has also spent time at start-up clubs such as GWS and Brisbane when they were Bears.

Of course, Port Adelaide had only been in the AFL for two years when Williams took the coaching reins in 1999.

He coached Cornes during a golden era, where he took the club to its first flag in 2004, after preliminary finals appearance in 2003 and 2002, and a semi-final in 2001.

Cornes believes Williams is an obvious fit for the AFL’s 19th club in Tasmania.

“He’s the most impressive football person that I’ve ever seen, the only person to be there from the ground up at three clubs (Brisbane, Port Adelaide and GWS),” Cornes said.

“That’s why I think it’s a perfect fit at Tassie. No one has the experience with first-up teams like him.

“The passion to help young players and develop them has always been his biggest strength, even when he was a senior coach, that was where his passion lied.

“They’re going to spend at least 12 months before they enter the main competition. So, to be able to develop those players at VFL level as they’re playing and the side is developing under a coach, he’d be a great option.”

But Cornes also thought Williams could be a handy addition to Carlton.

“Their skill level has been much spoken about this year and how poor it’s been,” Cornes said.

“No one is more passionate about developing the skills of the game than Mark Williams.”

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