Inaugural GIANTS senior assistant coach Mark ‘Choco’ Williams was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday night after a storied career that included being a four-time SANFL premiership player, an ex-Collingwood and Brisbane Bears player and the coach of the Power’s maiden AFL premiership in 2004.

Williams joined the GIANTS in the club’s formative years, working as senior assistant coach under inaugural head coach Kevin Sheedy. The pair played a key role in establishing the GIANTS.

During his Hall of Fame induction, Williams paid special tribute to Sheedy by campaigning for him to get the next statue at the MCG.

“I’m also immensely grateful to ‘Sheeds.’ You showed great faith and gave me the opportunity to come back into the AFL to coach,” he said.

“I’ve got the platform and I want to advocate here and now for Sheeds. The next statue at the MCG should be of Sheeds.

“His wisdom and innovation is unmatched. You think of what he’s done and the games he’s organised.

“I’m saying to ya, we all owe Sheeds so much, so thanks Sheeds, well done.”

Mark Williams shakes hands with Kevin Sheedy after being appointed the Senior Assistant Coach of the GIANTS in 2010.

Sheedy is a legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame and has also been inducted in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. He played 251 games with Richmond for three flags before guiding Essendon to a further four premierships across 27 seasons as the Bombers’ coach. 

He was then named as the GIANTS’ inaugural coach when the club entered the national competition as the 18th team, coaching the club across the first two seasons.

GIANTS CEO, David Matthews, said while Sheedy has one of the most impressive records in the game as a player and coach, his most profound influence may be his innovative and inclusive mindset that has left an indelible mark on the game.

“Kevin is an icon of our game and Australian sport,” Mr Matthews said.

“One of his greatest strengths is his ability to see the power and possibility for our game outside traditional football states, and indeed even outside Australia.

“He came to our club because he understood the wonderful opportunity that lies within Sydney - and across NSW and the ACT as a whole - to grow our great game and take it to more people and communities than ever before.

“He’s a true pioneer and revolutioniser of our game and I wholeheartedly endorse Mark’s calls for Sheeds to be the next statue outside the MCG.”