Mark Williams (Australian footballer, born 1983)

Mark Williams (born 13 April 1983) is an indigenous former Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn and Essendon in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was traded from the Hawks to the Bombers during the 2009 AFL trade week.

For other people with the same name, see Mark Williams.

Mark Williams
Personal information
Full name Mark Williams
Date of birth (1983-04-13) 13 April 1983
Original team(s) South Fremantle
Draft No. 43, 2000 National Draft, Hawthorn
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 81 kg (179 lb)
Position(s) Forward
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2002–2009 Hawthorn 111 (242)
2010–2011 Essendon 004 00(5)
Total 115 (247)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2011.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Making his debut in 2002 after being drafted by the Hawks at pick 43 in the 2000 AFL Draft, Williams was originally a small forward, but coach Alastair Clarkson found that he was more useful as a full forward during the 2005 season, where he kicked 63 goals, making him the leading goal kicker of the club.[1] Known for his flamboyance, pace and use of the "shotgun", a trademark celebration he used to use after kicking a goal, Williams was one of a number of young players at Hawthorn.

Williams finished 2006 with a total of 60 goals,[1] again becoming was the leading goalkicker at the Hawks. A knee injury cut short his 2007 season after only four games leaving him stranded on 13 goals.

Williams attracted controversy in 2008 when he made a choking gesture targeted at then-Port Adelaide coach, Mark Williams. This was in reference to the then-Port Adelaide coach's famous choking gesture when the Power won the 2004 Premiership. Williams was warned that he would be "shown the door" if he performed such an action again.

In the 2008 Grand Final, Williams and Stuart Dew kicked four goals in three minutes to put Hawthorn in a winning position late in the third quarter. Williams' three goals was the most by any player during the Grand Final.

In 2009, Williams injured his knee and missed almost half of that season's games.

The 2009 post-season trade week saw Williams traded to Essendon in a complex trade involving four clubs. He had a disappointing debut game for Essendon, when the Bombers were beaten by Geelong at the MCG. It was not a great night for Williams as he gathered just eight disposals and was kept scoreless in the match.

In the twilight of his career, Williams was unable to gain senior selection and played with Essendon's Victorian Football League affiliate the Bendigo Bombers, until his retirement which was announced on 25 July 2011.[2]

Williams agreed to play with Ballan in the Central Highlands Football League for 2012 and 2013.[3]

Williams became the inaugural coach of Western Region Football League club Newport Power at the end of 2015. In his first season in charge, he steered the club to premiership success.[4]

Statistics
[5]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2002 Hawthorn 6311516130.30.31.70.32.00.31.0
2003 Hawthorn 6910943176030231.11.04.81.96.73.32.6
2004 Hawthorn 6213312863612246261.60.64.11.75.82.21.2
2005 Hawthorn 61963351412016187253.31.87.41.18.54.61.3
2006 Hawthorn 62060261433417793223.01.37.21.78.94.71.1
2007 Hawthorn 641352512371153.31.36.33.09.32.81.3
2008 Hawthorn 622463220672278126372.11.59.43.312.65.71.7
2009 Hawthorn 6131671064815464241.20.58.23.711.84.91.8
2010 Essendon 3345025631861.30.06.31.57.82.01.5
Career 115 247 127 780 246 1026 466 171 2.1 1.1 6.8 2.1 8.9 4.1 1.5

Notes
  1. Blake, Martin (18 March 2016). Mighty Fighting Hawks. Penguin Books. p. 47. ISBN 978-0143797234.
  2. http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/mark-williams-forced-into-afl-retirement-20110725-1hwcj.html
  3. O'Neill, David (4 April 2012 Williams signs with Ballan
  4. "08: Where are they now?". Hawthorn Football Club. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  5. Mark Williams' player profile at AFL Tables
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