Richmond coach Damien Hardwick lauds assistant Mark Williams’ resilience as he battles cancerJon Ralph
Herald-Sun
February 12, 2015RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has lauded Mark Williams’ incredible resilience as he successfully tackles cancer.
The Port Adelaide premiership coach was diagnosed with lymphoma in November, a cancer which attacks the immune system.
He continues treatment while combining his work at Richmond and is expected to make a full recovery, with his diagnosis extremely positive.
He is renowned across the AFL industry as a mad genius, with Hardwick planning on having him at the club for the long-term future.
“It has been great (him getting a positive diagnosis). It was obviously very disturbing news when he found out, but Chocco works in the morning and has his treatment in the afternoon and trying to keep him away from the club is the hardest problem,’’ Hardwick said.
“He has boundless energy and he exhibits everything we hold dear. He is resilient, he is relentless in everything he does and it is the reason we got him to the Tigers and we are very fortunate to have him. He does a great job and he will continue to do so.”
Williams is found on the boundary line at each Richmond game roaring at players as they come off the field physically spent.
But Hardwick says his eccentric exterior belies a cutting-edge football mind.
“The thing about Chocco is I had him as a coach at Essendon and Port Adelaide and he is still very much at the forefront of the game. I find him inspiring.
“He certainly gives me ideas at my stage of coaching development and he constantly develops me as a coach. He challenges the coaches and players and administrative staff.
“That is the importance of having good people at your footy club and innovation is something we continue to drive within our four walls and he is a big part of that.”
The only Power premiership coach could easily be coaching Greater Western Sydney or St Kilda after going close to taking both senior roles.
He made a hasty exit from GWS after being told he was not to be Kevin Sheedy’s replacement while he was the white-hot favourite to replace Scott Watters until St Kilda made a late bid for Alan Richardson.
But while his confronting, brutally honest matter can be challenging as a senior coach it is perfect foil for a young coach like Hardwick.
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