Mark Williams: A Timeline
The key dates and events in the football career of Mark Williams, who has stepped down as coach of Port Adelaide
1980 - Wins All-Australian selection after the state carnival, plays in another flag with Port Adelaide.
1981 - Debuts for Collingwood in the VFL, wins the club best and fairest, represents Victoria and plays in the Magpies’ losing grand final side.
1983 - Appointed Collingwood captain.
1984 - Leads Collingwood goal kicking with 53.
1985 - Wins his second Collingwood best and fairest.
1986 - After 135 games and 178 goals, Williams leaves Collingwood to take up an offer with new club Brisbane Bears, where he is appointed vice-captain.
1987 - Member of the first-ever Brisbane Bears side.
1990 - Becomes the first SANFL-bred player to play 200 games at VFL/AFL level. Retires from the Bears after 66 games and 58 goals. Returns to SANFL to play in his third premiership with Port Adelaide.
1992 - Retires as a player after another Port Adelaide flag.
1993 - Appointed senior coach of Glenelg in the SANFL.
1995 - After two years at Glenelg, Williams leaves to take an assistant coaching role under Kevin Sheedy at Essendon.
1997 - After two years with the Bombers, Williams returns home to take up an assistant coaching role with new AFL team Port Adelaide Power.
1999 - Williams succeeds John Cahill as senior Port Adelaide coach.
2002 - Port Adelaide wins the minor premiership but fails to make the grand final.
2003 - Once again the Power finishes home and away season in first position but doesn’t make the grand final.
2004 - The Power win their third consecutive minor premiership and finally follow through by winning the grand final. Williams famously makes a choking gesture as he makes his way on to the boundary line to watch the final few minutes. Williams is named All-Australian coach.
2007 - Williams takes the Power to another grand final, but they are thrashed by Geelong to the tune of 119 points.
2009 - After much conjecture about his future, Williams comes to an uneasy truce with the Power by signing a two-year deal.
2010 - Publicly announces he is likely to be sacked unless he can deliver a premiership this year. One week later, Williams announces he will step down as coach.