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Williams in talks to join Bombers

By Mr Dandalooa

Mark Williams could be headed to Essendon after it was confirmed this week former Port Adelaide coach had met with club officials.

FootyGoss understands that senior coach Matthew Knights and football manager Paul Hamilton had a meeting with Williams on yesterday while he was visiting Melbourne.

In a club statement Hamilton said the club took the opportunity to catch up and see where he was at in terms of his career because they knew he was in Melbourne.

“We obviously have coaching positions available for next season following the resignations of Ashley Prescott and Scott Camporeale,” he said.

“We will explore a number of options over the coming weeks to ensure we fill those positions with the best possible candidates.”

The ABC has speculated that there is an “obvious risk to Knights’ future at the club” if Williams joins the Essendon football department.

Williams, an AFL premiership coach, has an unclear future in football after he left the Power early last month.

Speculation is rife that he may head to Greater Western Sydney under coach Kevin Sheedy, which has been denied.

In 1997, Williams joined Port Adelaide as an assistant coach, and in 1999, won the head coaching role at Port Adelaide, replacing John Cahill.

Port Adelaide topped the ladder at the end of 2002 and 2003, but did not make the grand final in either year.

In 2004 they again finished on top of the AFL ladder and went on to win their first AFL premiership.

In 2007, Williams once again coached Port Adelaide to the 2007, where his side suffered the worst ever grand final defeat, losing to Geelong by 119 points. Throughout 2009, Port Adelaide’s inconsistent on-field performances continued to focus on Williams’ future at the club.

Late in the season, following the appointment of Mark Haysman as CEO, and after much conjecture in the media, Williams was offered a new 2 year contract.

On 9 July, 2010, Mark Williams resigned as coach of Port Adelaide and coached his final game for Port Adelaide against Collingwood at AAMI Stadium.