Kevin Sheedy has urged AFL clubs to chase Mark Williams as coaching mentor
As AFL clubs look to bolster their coaching departments, legend Kevin Sheedy says it’s “ridiculous” they aren’t considering a man who’s climbed the premiership mountain.
AFL News
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Kevin Sheedy says AFL clubs looking for a senior coach or a director of coaching mentor would be derelict in their duties if they don’t speak with 2004 premiership coach Mark Williams.
Williams is currently coach of stand-alone VFL side Werribee — which sits fifth on the ladder.
Sheedy maintains Williams, 60, is the best coach outside the AFL system and would be a massive asset back at the level.
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“It’s ridiculous that he is not an AFL coach now,” Sheedy said of the man who was his assistant coach at Greater Western Sydney and Essendon.
“He is the best coach not in the (AFL) right now.”
“They (the clubs) need to do their due diligence and if they do that, he has to be right in the discussion.
“He would be absolutely unbelievable (as a mentor).”
North Melbourne is on the look out for am experienced mentor to support newly appointed coach Rhyce Shaw, while Carlton and St Kilda are yet to lock into their 2020 coaches, with caretakers David Teague and Brett Ratten leading the race.
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In many ways, Williams is the forgotten man in the AFL coaching landscape, and Sheedy says that’s a shame for the entire industry that is too obsessed with age.
Sheedy said Williams’ record as a senior coach with Port Adelaide — one flag, seven finals series and a strong winning percentage of 55.47 — proved he deserved a second chance.
But he said Williams’ ability to work with young talent at Richmond, GWS and Essendon as a development/assistant coach, and his capacity to foster coaches-in-waiting sets him apart,
“He’s an absolute star,” he said. “He actually got Damien Hardwick (to Port Adelaide) and he got ‘Clarko’ (Alastair Clarkson) as an assistant during his time at Port Adelaide.”
Sheedy says Williams’ work with the Giants in their formative years is starting to bare fruit now, while he acknowledged his work with Dustin Martin played a role in making the Tigers superstar the player he is today.
“He challenges people because he expects 100 per cent professionalism,” he said.
“If he was in America now, he’d still be coaching at the top level. But we don’t give experienced coaches the respect they deserve here.
“He would unbelievable at an AFL club, whether it was coaching or as a mentor to one of the younger coaches.”
Former Dockers and Suns midfielder Michael Barlow, who is learning from Williams at Werribee, has spoken about the impact Williams has had on the group at VFL level.
Williams coached Port Adelaide from 1999 to 2010, leading them in 274 games and 17 finals, famously winning the club’s only AFL flag in 2004.
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