"Football evangelist": AFL greats endorse 'Choco' Williams

Melbourne great Garry Lyon believes Mark ‘Choco’ Williams still has plenty to offer an AFL club.

Williams, Melbourne’s head of development, has reportedly been told that his services will no longer be required at the Demons next year.

“One of the great men in footy, Mark Williams, departing Melbourne after the final game this weekend,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“He’s been there for five years, 2021 premiership, massive say. His impact on that footy club, in my eyes, has been enormous.

“I think it’s very clear that he’s not finished in footy. He still wants to keep doing it and from my experiences he would be a great man to have at any footy club.

“Energy, passion…”

Tim Watson added: “He’s a football evangelist, that’s what he is. He’s in the Kevin Sheedy mould.”

SEN’s Kane Cornes reported on Wednesday night that Williams has been told he won’t keep his job at the Dees beyond the 2025 season.

‘Choco’ joined the Demons in December 2020 and was a key piece behind the club’s 2021 premiership success, but won’t be at the club as they go in a new coaching direction following Simon Goodwin’s sacking for 2026 and beyond.

The 66-year-old previously coached Port Adelaide from 1999 to 2010, where he led the club to the 2004 premiership.

With over 40 years of playing and coaching experience at the top level, Kane Cornes, who Williams coached to the 2004 flag with Port, believes that Tasmania should be looking at the respected name upon their entry into the competition in 2028.

He also added that Williams is still hungry to work at the top level and is ready to listen to any available AFL opportunities.

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

“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.

“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.”

Having also played a key role in building all of Brisbane, Port Adelaide and GWS from the ground up, Cornes thinks that Williams could be a no-brainer for Tassie.

If he doesn’t head down south, Cornes also could see a club like Carlton utilising Williams in a skills coach role.

“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 I also think a club like the Blues could really use him. Their skill level has been much spoken about this year and how poor it's been.

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