Chief operating officer Matt Green acknowledges the contribution made by recently departed long-serving assistant coach Mark Williams
FOOTBALL is a bloody tough game.
The industry itself is, at times, just as tough.
Cam Schwab joked last week that there are now two trade weeks in football.
The week in October for the players where a limited number of players find a new club; and another increasing important trade period in September for the rest of the industry.
The movement of coaches, support staff and administrators in September has become the real footy ‘arms race’ and in recent years we have seen this race become increasing aggressive.
At the Demons, we have seen quite a bit of change this year with a new coach, senior sports science manager and a remodeled coaching panel.
All of this is done for the good of the club and we are very happy with our ‘ins’.
However the changes mean that people move on and I would like to pay tribute to the contribution of all those people and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
One person in particular I would like to pay tribute to is Mark ‘Wilbur’ Williams.
Wilbur moving on highlights the tough, relentless nature of this industry.
Wilbur’s bio is very impressive and reads as follows:
FOOTBALL is a bloody tough game.
The industry itself is, at times, just as tough.
Cam Schwab joked last week that there are now two trade weeks in football.
The week in October for the players where a limited number of players find a new club; and another increasing important trade period in September for the rest of the industry.
The movement of coaches, support staff and administrators in September has become the real footy ‘arms race’ and in recent years we have seen this race become increasing aggressive.
At the Demons, we have seen quite a bit of change this year with a new coach, senior sports science manager and a remodeled coaching panel.
All of this is done for the good of the club and we are very happy with our ‘ins’.
However the changes mean that people move on and I would like to pay tribute to the contribution of all those people and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
One person in particular I would like to pay tribute to is Mark ‘Wilbur’ Williams.
Wilbur moving on highlights the tough, relentless nature of this industry.
Wilbur’s bio is very impressive and reads as follows:
* He was recruited from St Marks
* Played 19 matches and kicked 10 goals with Carlton from 1983-88
* Made 14 appearances and booted 13 goals with Footscray from 1989-90
* Played 35 matches with Sandringham from 1992-93 and was a member of the 1992 premiership
* Coached Northern Bullants in the VFL from 1998-2003
* Appointed Sandringham coach in 2004 - he coached the Zebras to three consecutive premierships from 2004-06 - and also guided Sandringham to a top of the table finish in 2007
* Coached Sandringham in 83 matches - his record was 62 wins/21 losses, with a winning percentage of 75 per cent
* Was VFL state representative coach against WAFL in 2007
* Part of Melbourne’s coaching staff from 2004 - as part of its alignment with Sandringham - until 2011. He was named Melbourne’s development coach in 2008
* Became Melbourne assistant coach in 2009-10, overseeing the midfield
* Was Melbourne’s ball movement coach in 2011
What this bio doesn’t tell you is the most important part of Wilbur and many of us at the club are fortunate to have seen it. He is certainly a skilled and experienced coach with a great knowledge of the game.
But Wilbur is also a man with an incredibly positive attitude; seems to be eternally happy; and is a man of genuine integrity.
This was highlighted when Wilbur came to the club’s Best and Fairest after finishing at the club.
It is a big effort to turn up in the first place, but he carried himself with dignity and while no doubt disappointed to be leaving the Demons, he was philosophical about the change and thankful for his eight years at the club.
We have all enjoyed working with Wilbur over his time at the club, but over the last few weeks we have been inspired by Wilbur’s example - an incredible show of personal integrity.
And where I come from, there is very little that is more important.
What this bio doesn’t tell you is the most important part of Wilbur and many of us at the club are fortunate to have seen it. He is certainly a skilled and experienced coach with a great knowledge of the game.
But Wilbur is also a man with an incredibly positive attitude; seems to be eternally happy; and is a man of genuine integrity.
This was highlighted when Wilbur came to the club’s Best and Fairest after finishing at the club.
It is a big effort to turn up in the first place, but he carried himself with dignity and while no doubt disappointed to be leaving the Demons, he was philosophical about the change and thankful for his eight years at the club.
We have all enjoyed working with Wilbur over his time at the club, but over the last few weeks we have been inspired by Wilbur’s example - an incredible show of personal integrity.
And where I come from, there is very little that is more important.
