Australian Football

Stephen Williams flew the flag for the Williams Dynasty with considerable aplomb and no small amount of success, both as player and coach. However, in the former role it would probably be fair to suggest that it was not until the later stages of his career that he consistently produced his best football. Of chunky build, and never among the quickest of players, he relied on a combination of intelligence and determination to rack up possessions. One of his biggest assets was his kicking, which was both accurate and penetrative.

Stephen Williams joined Port Adelaide from West Adelaide, where he had failed to register a senior game, and he made his league debut in 1979, a Magpies premiership year. However, for several years Williams was only a fringe league player at best, and he failed to earn selection in Port's flag-winning combinations either that year or in 1980 and 1981.

Williams nevertheless persisted, and when Port re-emerged as a force in the late 1980s he was not only still with the club, but warranted description as a key player. In the victorious Grand Finals of 1988, 1989 and 1990 he lined up in the centre, earning prominent mention in dispatches on all three occasions. He also played in the Grand Final triumphs of 1992, 1994 and 1995, retiring after the last of these matches having played a total of 272 senior league games which included four with the fledgling VFL club Brisbane in 1987.

Stephen Williams also enjoyed success as a coach, steering his beloved Magpies to four successive Grand Finals between 1996 and 1999, all but one of which was won. All told, he served as Port coach for six-and-a-half seasons, with the side qualifying for the finals in all bar one of them. Since his departure, the Magpies have generally struggled, and have yet to add to their premiership haul.

Author - John Devaney