Mark Williams - Head of Development

Premiership-winning coach Mark Williams was appointed as Melbourne’s Head of Development in December 2020.

He will work closely in developing the club's younger players, helping them push to the next level in their footy careers.

The highly respected figure joins the Demons after 40 years industry experience as a player and coach. 

He is most well known for his role as Port Adelaide’s Senior Coach between 1999 to 2010. During his 12-year tenure, the Power qualified for the finals on seven occasions, going all the way in 2004 to claim their maiden Premiership triumph. He again took them to the Grand Final in 2007, where they were defeated by Geelong.

Other accolades Port earned under his watch included minor Premierships in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and Pre-Season Cup victories in 2001 and 2002. 

Williams departed Alberton Oval in 2010 and moved on to work as a Senior Assistant Coach at the GWS Giants in 2011 and 2012.

In 2012, Williams accepted a position with the Richmond Football Club working alongside Damien Hardwick as their Development Coach.

Most recently, Williams has been the Senior Coach of the Werribee Football Club in the VFL, and prior to that, he was Coach of amateur club AJAX in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.

A former teacher by trade, Williams had a distinguished playing career which saw him play a combined total of 380 games in the SANFL with West Adelaide (64), Port Adelaide (115) and VFL/AFL with Collingwood (135) and Brisbane Bears (66).

During his time at the Pies, Williams won the Club Best and Fairest in both 1981 and 1985. He was captain of Collingwood from 1983-1986 and its leading goalkicker in 1984.

Following his time at Collingwood, he joined the Brisbane Bears in 1987 where he was named the inaugural vice-captain.