Mark Williams, at training with Richmond's Jack Riewoldt yesterday, has emerged as a potential candidate to replace Mark Neeld next year at Melbourne. Source: Getty Images
RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has no fears the vacant Melbourne coaching job will distract contender Mark Williams from a role considered crucial to the Tigers' emergence as a potential finalist this season.
The former Port Adelaide premiership coach has emerged as a potential candidate to replace Mark Neeld next year at Melbourne given the Demons' preference for a man with prior success at senior level.
Williams, who led Port Adelaide to its sole premiership in 2004 and to another grand final in 2007, has worked in a developmental role at the Tigers this season after spending the previous two years as a senior assistant to Kevin Sheedy at Greater Western Sydney.
The 54-year-old has shown great passion when urging the Tigers on from the sidelines during matches this year and is renowned for his ability with younger players, an area that needs immediate redress at Melbourne.
Hardwick, whose side has an opportunity to further its finals chances against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night, has no concerns that Williams will be anything but focused on ensuring Richmond makes the eight for the first time since 2001.
"People work to their utmost in their current job and 'Choco' is no different," he said. "Whatever happens over at Melbourne happens. We just worry about what we can control in these four walls.
"He'll work incredibly hard doing what he does and that's helping develop our kids. We've got no concerns."
But Hardwick, who played under Williams in Port's 2004 premiership, said he was yet to gauge Williams's interest in the role.
"You'll have to ask Choco that question. I'm not his mother. I don't really know," he said.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, who was approached in the past by Melbourne, reiterated yesterday that he held no desire to fill the role, a position his agent Liam Pickering stressed to The Australian on Monday.
Clarkson, whose top-placed side faces West Coast tonight, is out of contract at the end of next year but said he was intent on taking the Hawks to a second premiership in his tenure. "I'm contracted here and I love everything about my association with the Hawthorn Football Club, So I'll be continuing to stay involved here," he said.
Clarkson, who began his reign in 2005, has previously said that he believes coaches have a limited time in which to make an impact at a club before their influence on players begins to wane. But he said not everyone agreed with that philosophy.
"If you spoke to 'Sheeds' (Kevin Sheedy), he would say you could just keep going forever and a day," he said. "In our game, historically, one person staying at the one club a long time is not a common thing.
"We've got unfinished business here, both from my point of view and the players and as long as we've both got the passion to try and see that through, then we'll stay here as long as it takes."
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