Toast Congratulations Mark Williams - inducted into Australian Football Hall of Fame

[Macca19]

Onya El Chocolate

 

[Us against the rest]

Well done Mark, you are a true champion of the game and delivered Port Adelaide AFL it's only flag, you deserve the recognition.

 

[Poo Eckert]

how autistic do you have to be to say this in this thread? * me.


Congrats Chocco.

Well just sharing my memories. Didn’t say it wasn’t deserved, however he wasn’t the complete white knight was he.

 

[raptalia]

A well deserved honour. As far as I can see Chocco has been involved in senior football for 48 years since he debuted for West Adelaide in 1976. Since that time he has been associated with the game as a player, Coach and latterly as an Assistant Coach and a Specialist Coach.

 

[WillemDaDrew]

Congratulations Choco.
Was my PE teacher for a short period when I was a young lad.

A true PA Legend

Some more memorabilia images from the Herald

 

[morell]

Legend. Congratulations to the man.

No matter what he will always will be our first AFL Premiership coach. I've certainly missed his passion and firey nature over the last few years

 

[simba_]

allan scott, you were wrong!!!

 

[1954]

Well done Choco extremely well deserved, and geez it was great to see most of the pics of him (inc those on the backdrop) wearing the PB's, and what an absolutely sensational guernsey it is!

 

[elbarton]

I’ll always treasure my signed copy of The Night Marcus Won The Flag

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Been listening to the media this morning and all the reports have been along the line have been - Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams ......

None have reported that he got in as a player! I guess the media can't single him out as former champion player for .... as he played for 3 clubs, or former Collingwood captain as he got moved on, the Bears don't exist, the SANFL isn't as big any more etc.

The thing that rarely gets mentioned about Choco, but they did mention it last night, was that he was the first South Aussie / SANFL player to play 200 V/AFL games. Blight got to 170 odd, before returning to coach Woodville, both had played just over 100 SANFL games but Blight went at 24, Choco at 22.

Along with Blight, Choco paved the way for younger players to go and be well regarded that South Aussies can play this game. It probably took that class of 1986 - Kernahan, Bradley, Platten, McGuiness, Motley and Stretch (all long time State of Origin players) to really get over the Vic media bias that South Aussies can be big contributors. Like Choco they went when they were 22 or 23 and had played around 100 SANFL games and won flags or played in lots of finals, unlike Blight.

As an aside it was Wanganeen who was the first indigenous player to play 300 AFL games. Yes Farmer and Cable had played over 400 senior games and Bill Dempsey over 300, but that's not VFL, so it doesn't get mentioned.

Its a bit like Choco is always referred to as Fos Williams' son - it was done again last night, its there early in the article from the AFL I posted above.

Choco wouldn't give a stuff about the media reporting and loves being referred to as Fos' son but its disingenuous by the media - not all, but most - to ignore his great playing record because its easier to just refer to him as Port's AFL premiership coach.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Well just sharing my memories. Didn’t say it wasn’t deserved, however he wasn’t the complete white knight was he.

Mate he got in for his playing record. Why don't you concentrate and talk about that!

 

[Enviable Tradition]

Well done Choco extremely well deserved, and geez it was great to see most of the pics of him (inc those on the backdrop) wearing the PB's, and what an absolutely sensational guernsey it is!

Yeah I was disappointed to see the official AFL socials go with a Collingwood guernsey.

He did play more games there though and it is their league.

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Annoyed the AFL used picture of him in a Collingwood guernsey for its Tweet (which I refuse to share).

Alright he played more games for Collingwood than Port, but is anyone more quintessentially Port Adelaide than a Williams?

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Annoyed the AFL used picture of him in a Collingwood guernsey for its Tweet (which I refuse to share).

Alright he played more games for Collingwood than Port, but is anyone more quintessentially Port Adelaide than a Williams?

Bobby Quinn, John Cahill, Russell Ebert. The first two only played for Port and Russell only played for NM for 1 year.

Choco has so much shared history across the AFL these days.

 

[raptalia]

Annoyed the AFL used picture of him in a Collingwood guernsey for its Tweet (which I refuse to share).

Alright he played more games for Collingwood than Port, but is anyone more quintessentially Port Adelaide than a Williams?

Mark played 135 games for Collingwood and 115 for Port. He also coached Port in the AFL for 273 games which makes an association of 388 games with the Port Adelaide Football Club. I share your annoyance but I am hardly surprised at the pro Collingwood angle. We should be thankful for small mercies as Choco also played a game for Victoria while at Collingwood and the ignoramuses could easily have had him wearing a big v.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

Use this one for all your posts

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

From the first paragraph of the AFL story I posted;

..... and now sees him recognised as part of just the third father/son combination in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

The other two are;
Haydn Bunton Sr as a player and Haydn Bunton Jr as a coach
Jack McMurray Sr and Jack McMurray Jr umpires in the VFL - father 1910's and 1920's, son 1940's and 50's.

In June 2026 when his 5 year eligibility period is over, Gary Ablett Jr will join his old man and be number 4 combo.

 

[Poo Eckert]

Mate he got in for his playing record. Why don't you concentrate and talk about that!

I can, was a huge achievement being Collingwood captain. What he did for Port. His influence to footy overall is exemplary, no doubt, a footy lover. I’m not questioning that. Perhaps more relevant to Port Hall of fame

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

I can, was a huge achievement being Collingwood captain. What he did for Port. His influence to footy overall is exemplary, no doubt, a footy lover. I’m not questioning that. Perhaps more relevant to Port Hall of fame

He was a big cog in the 1979 and 1980 premiership teams - listen to what Bucky said about his role in them. Did you see him play then?? He was an important part of the 1990 flag, come home mid season from Brisbane, the flag we had to win after the state turned against us. He knew Port had to win that day and delivered like he always did on field. He played a decent role in our 1992 flag and mentored a young Nathan Buckley throughout the year.

 

[Poo Eckert]

He was a big cog in the 1979 and 1980 premiership teams - listen to what Bucky said about his role in them. Did you see him play then?? He was an important part of the 1990 flag, come home mid season from Brisbane, the flag we had to win after the state turned against us. He knew Port had to win that day and delivered like he always did on field. He played a decent role in our 1992 flag and mentored a young Nathan Buckley throughout the year.

He was made Collingwood captain before Cahill got there also didn’t he? Or did Cahill anoint him captain?

 

[Poo Eckert]

He was a big cog in the 1979 and 1980 premiership teams - listen to what Bucky said about his role in them. Did you see him play then?? He was an important part of the 1990 flag, come home mid season from Brisbane, the flag we had to win after the state turned against us. He knew Port had to win that day and delivered like he always did on field. He played a decent role in our 1992 flag and mentored a young Nathan Buckley throughout the year.

Unfortunately for me, I don’t seem to remember a lot of footy based on players. More the game style and result.

Pickett 04 GF and Carr noticable exceptions to my memorisation system.

1980 no, listened more on the radio than going, my parents being foreigners didn’t go to footy.

 

[tribey]

Good luck to him, I don’t begrudge the honour but from my port perspective he did a lot of damage as well as good.

Pushed Cahill out too early IMO.

Led choking teams.

2005 EF embarrasment
2007 embarrassment

Then milked us in 2010 when he should have walked earlier. Didn’t bottom out after 07 costing us lot of time.

So for his one achievement there’s plenty that wasn’t.

Anyway cheers Choco enjoy the acknowledgment

Sizzling take given the tenor of the thread.

Not many coaches leave long-term roles without obvious errors or regret. Even Choco has said he should’ve left earlier when he still had the capital to cop another head role.

Was one flag unders? Absolutely. But without the one he did get, the club would be Freo, so eh.

 

[Portmagpies36]

Been listening to the media this morning and all the reports have been along the line have been - Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams ......

None have reported that he got in as a player! I guess the media can't single him out as former champion player for .... as he played for 3 clubs, or former Collingwood captain as he got moved on, the Bears don't exist, the SANFL isn't as big any more etc.

The thing that rarely gets mentioned about Choco, but they did mention it last night, was that he was the first South Aussie / SANFL player to play 200 V/AFL games. Blight got to 170 odd, before returning to coach Woodville, both had played just over 100 SANFL games but Blight went at 24, Choco at 22.

Along with Blight, Choco paved the way for younger players to go and be well regarded that South Aussies can play this game. It probably took that class of 1986 - Kernahan, Bradley, Platten, McGuiness, Motley and Stretch (all long time State of Origin players) to really get over the Vic media bias that South Aussies can be big contributors. Like Choco they went when they were 22 or 23 and had played around 100 SANFL games and won flags or played in lots of finals, unlike Blight.

As an aside it was Wanganeen who was the first indigenous player to play 300 AFL games. Yes Farmer and Cable had played over 400 senior games and Bill Dempsey over 300, but that's not VFL, so it doesn't get mentioned.

Its a bit like Choco is always referred to as Fos Williams' son - it was done again last night, its there early in the article from the AFL I posted above.

Choco wouldn't give a stuff about the media reporting and loves being referred to as Fos' son but its disingenuous by the media - not all, but most - to ignore his great playing record because its easier to just refer to him as Port's AFL premiership coach.

Glad you have mentioned what a prolific career Choco had as a player, I witnessed every game he played for Port Adelaide and as far as commitment and intensity in a game he is number 1.
The all conquering 1980 side was full of stars but Mark Williams was one of the very best players in that side and he was only 21. All Australian as well.
His first year at Collingwood he was picked for Victoria! 2 years later he is Collingwood captain and they don’t pick outsiders. I have always thought his playing career has been extremely underrated and surprised he wasn’t inducted a lot earlier.

 

[VineValerian]

Fantastic to see his picture with the PB's on in the certificate too

Only thing better would to have used that famous pic of him caked in mud from head to toe on it, after an SANFL game.

Symbolised the insatiable drive never say die intensity of the man.

 

[Poo Eckert]

Sizzling take given the tenor of the thread.

Not many coaches leave long-term roles without obvious errors or regret. Even Choco has said he should’ve left earlier when he still had the capital to cop another head role.

Was one flag unders? Absolutely. But without the one he did get, the club would be Freo, so eh.

I know, I’ll focus on the positives.