Port premiership coach joins Hawthorn's AFLW program - ESPN.com
Hawthorn have added some legendary star power to their AFLW program after luring AFL premiership coach Mark "Choco'' Williams their way.
africa.espn.comHere’s the latest on Mark Williams and his AFLW role with Hawthorn.
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Mark “Choco” Williams was announced as Hawthorn’s AFLW Head of Development in May 2026. The Hawks described him as a high-calibre appointment with decades of coaching and development experience, and they highlighted his ability to build relationships and create environments for players to thrive. He brings a premiership coaching background (Port Adelaide, 2004) and recent development leadership at Melbourne, where he helped the club during its 2021 premiership year.[1][3][4]
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Multiple outlets reported the same development, noting Williams’ move marks his first AFLW-related coaching role and that Hawthorn aimed to boost its women's program by leveraging his extensive experience at the senior level.[2][3]
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Reactions from Hawthorn’s AFLW leadership emphasized the strategic value of adding a figure with Williams’ track record to accelerate player development and program growth.[3]
Key sources you can check for full details:
- Hawthorn FC announcement on Williams joining as AFLW Head of Development.[1]
- 7News coverage of Williams taking the AFLW development role at Hawthorn.[2]
- AFL.com.au feature on Williams’ return in a new AFLW role.[3]
If you’d like, I can pull the exact quotes or summarize the articles in a brief, add timelines, or compile a quick comparison of Williams’ previous coaching/development roles for context.