Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams addresses his players during the AFL Round 13 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and Port Adelaide Power at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. Slattery Images
The Mark Williams era at Port Adelaide came to an end last night, with coach and club cutting ties ahead of what turned out to be his final game. While the news came somewhat suddenly – you wouldn’t expect to hear it on game day – it was not all that surprising.
Williams signed a fresh two-year contract only last year, however that deal was the subject of heated debate both publicly and in the Port boardroom. Many were stunned to hear that the deal had gone through.
Both parties harboured what appeared to be a fractured relationship last year. They were at odds on a number of issues, including the choice of captain at the beginning of the season.
Time seemingly failed to heal those wounds. Late last week, Williams made the startling admission he didn’t expect to be at Alberton that much longer.
“I would be amazed if I was there more than two years, this year and next,” Williams said.
He also said only a premiership would keep him in the job.
These comments were the reason Williams’ future was such a hot topic at Thursday’s board meeting. Mike Sheahan of the Herald Sun wrote that the administration were “incensed” by him talking about his future in such a manner.
To be fair though, this wasn’t just about a fractured relationship.
Port currently sit in the bottom four with only five wins. Despite a competitive start to the year, they’ve lost their last eight matches.
“If you are interested in protecting your win-loss record … that is the only reason you would (leave now),” Williams also said last week. “I see great development in our group.”
While it’s perfectly fine for a coach in a development year to make a statement such as this, it loses a bit of its punch when it comes from the coach of a club who at the end of last year brought in three mature-age recruits from the lists of other AFL clubs, as well as adding another (Cameron Cloke) to its rookie list.
The club were not thinking of this as an all-out development year.
Now, either Dean Laidley or Matthew Primus are likely to take over. Laidley, brought over as a high-profile assistant to partner Williams – another sign the club had high hopes for this season – would be a fine choice to take the top job after steering North Melbourne for so many years.
Primus, too, appears to be a worthy candidate and it would be interesting to see how he goes in the main role.
Williams took over the senior coaching gig from John Cahill in 1999. He went on to steer the club to three minor premierships and, most notably, the 2004 premiership win.
In what was at times an emotional press conference yesterday, Williams found time to joke. After announcing he’ll be leaving due to illness and fatigue, he quipped: “The supporters have become sick and tired of me!”
Speaking in a more serious tone, he said that continuing on as coach was “untenable”. He said it was a mutual decision. As is usually the case when a coach steps aside, that’s up for debate.
But Williams is deserving of praise. He won Port Adelaide its first premiership in the AFL, he made them one of the best teams from the last decade.
His reign didn’t end on a high, and losing to Collingwood by 26 points despite an inspired performance from the players wasn’t the fairytale finish, however his reign definitely provided Port fans with plenty of memories.
Mathew
Guest
Williams stepped aside with class. The way it was with contract negotiations last year it looked like they would have a messy separation but I think the "Mutual Decision" worked out alright. I think he said on radio last night that Port won 18 or more games four years in a row or something like that. Well done to Chocco. He did well.