Williams, who has taken Port Adelaide to finals in seven of his 10 years at the helm, is out of contract at season’s end.
Port Adelaide recorded a $1.4 million loss last year, and is currently in talks with the SANFL to secure a better stadium deal and ensure it remains a financially viable club.
Duncanson was adamant the club wouldn’t penny-pinch from the football department, and said the process of re-appointing Williams, which was put in place last year, remained unchanged.
“Mark and I have a very good relationship and speak openly. He’s very aware of our financial position across the club and takes a keen interest. He actually has a positive influence on ensuring our financial stability,” Duncanson said on Monday.
“If our supporters think Mark Williams is going to go and coach another club simply based on financial return, I don’t think they know Mark Williams very well.”
Port Adelaide’s average home attendance dropped to 23,842 last season.
Duncanson said he was hopeful for a crowd of nearly double that number when Port Adelaide does battle with Adelaide in Showdown XXVI on Saturday night.
“It’s our home game, so we’d be hoping for 40,000-plus and we’re encouraging our supporters to get along this weekend. It’s important to us, not just from an on-field perspective, but from a financial perspective as well,” Duncanson said.
“On Saturday, you could see 80,000-plus Victorians go to a stadium (the MCG) and get along quite well without having any major issues. The Showdowns are something football supporters in this state should always put in their diary very early in the year.”
Port Adelaide put on a disappointing display for their home crowd in Friday’s night’s 66-point loss to St Kilda, but Duncanson was confident his side could respond this week.
“The guys are definitely hurting, and they came off a great win against the reigning premier the previous week. I think you’ll find they step up to the mark as they do in every Showdown. There’s not too much motivated needed this week,” he said.
“The 25 previous Showdowns have showed that it’s always a great contest. It’s not dependent on a club’s premiership position at the time or the performances in the weeks or months before. It’s a Showdown, and everything comes out to play on that particular day.”
Port Adelaide will be bolstered by the return of suspended duo Peter Burgoyne and Matt Thomas, but Shaun Burgoyne (knee) will have to prove his fitness at training on Wednesday.
