In big news coming out of the Holden Centre, Collingwood are reportedly set to go after ex-Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams to fill their vacant coaching position.
It's not exactly a secret that the Pies are on the hunt for a new figure at the helm, with the controversial departure of club legend Nathan Buckley last month ushering in a new era at the club.
According to renowned footy journalist Caroline Wilson, the Pies are now zeroing in on Williams to take over the top job from interim coach Robert Harvey at season's end.
"I'm hearing tonight that Mark Williams has entered the equation at Collingwood."
Caroline Wilson says there's a new candidate in the race to replace Nathan Buckley.#9FootyClassified | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/NkHZQ3Sfqu
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) July 5, 2021
"I didn’t think (Williams) was key in their thinking, but now I’m hearing that Paul Licuria, who with Peter Murphy seems to be running this process, is looking very squarely at Mark Williams to at least be a candidate to talk to for the Collingwood job,” Wilson exclaimed on Channel 9's Footy Classified.
“Mark Williams will be approached, that’s all I know. (He is a genuine contender) is what I’m hearing, but there are a lot of genuine contenders.”
Mark 'Choco' Williams has had a plethora of experience in the coaches box, with multiple roles across a host of clubs making him one of the most knowledgeable figures in football.
The ex-Collingwood player won Port Adelaide's first AFL premiership in 2004 after winning the minor premiership that year as well as the two seasons prior.
He then went on to hold coaching positions at GWS, Richmond and VFL side Werribee before being appointed as the head of development at Melbourne.
Williams would bring decades of experience to the Holden Centre, something that the Pies desperately need with their current young crop of stars rising through the ranks.
Collingwood had been closely considering former Kangaroos coach Brad Scott and Hawthorn great Sam Mitchell for the vacant job, with the latter now out of the race.
As of current the Pies are languishing down in 16th place with just four wins to show for in 2021.
Their recent game against the Saints on Sunday compounded the club's woes, going down by nine points after being comprehensively beaten around the ground for the majority of the game.
This week they will go up against the struggling Tigers at the MCG and have a real opportunity to pile on the misery to the fallen giants' woes.
