Mark Williams (Australian footballer, born 1964)
Encyclopedia
Mark P. Williams is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Carlton
and Footscray
in the Victorian/Australian Football League
(VFL/AFL).
Before starting his VFL career, Williams played at Fawkner and then St Mark's, where he was recruited from. A small forward, he never made more than five appearances in a season for Carlton. He spent most of his time in the reserves and was a member of their 1986 and 1987 reserves premiership teams.
Williams, whose father John also played with Carlton, was let go by his club and picked up by Footscray at the 1989 Pre-Season Draft
. He starred on his debut, against his former club in the opening round of the 1989 VFL season
with 35 disposals but only played two seasons.
He has had great success as a coach in the Victorian Football League
. From 1998 to 2003, Williams was in charge of the Northern Bullants
. In 2004 he became coach of Sandringham and steered them to premierships in his first three seasons, the first VFA/VFL coach to achieve such a feat since Gary Brice
in the early 1980s. He joined the AFL in 2008 when appointed as a development coach at Melbourne
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
and Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
in the Victorian/Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL/AFL).
Before starting his VFL career, Williams played at Fawkner and then St Mark's, where he was recruited from. A small forward, he never made more than five appearances in a season for Carlton. He spent most of his time in the reserves and was a member of their 1986 and 1987 reserves premiership teams.
Williams, whose father John also played with Carlton, was let go by his club and picked up by Footscray at the 1989 Pre-Season Draft
1989 VFL Draft
The 1989 VFL Draft was the fourth annual National Draft held by the Victorian Football League as the main method for the 14 teams to recruit players for the 1990 season. It consisted of a trading period, pre-draft selections, the main national draft and the 1990 pre-season draft and a...
. He starred on his debut, against his former club in the opening round of the 1989 VFL season
1989 VFL season
-Notable events:* In Round 13, horrendous conditions at Windy Hill saw Essendon and Footscray play the lowest scoring game since the 1927 Grand Final, with the teams combining for only 6.15 ....
with 35 disposals but only played two seasons.
He has had great success as a coach in the Victorian Football League
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
. From 1998 to 2003, Williams was in charge of the Northern Bullants
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
. In 2004 he became coach of Sandringham and steered them to premierships in his first three seasons, the first VFA/VFL coach to achieve such a feat since Gary Brice
Gary Brice
Gary Brice is a former Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the VFL during the 1970s.A solidly built wingman who could play at half forward, Brice started his career at Port Melbourne before being recruited by South Melbourne in 1970...
in the early 1980s. He joined the AFL in 2008 when appointed as a development coach at Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
.