Tom Williamson returns home to play for home club

The Ararat Rats will be looking to go one better this season in the Wimmera Football League after signing an ex-AFL player. Check out our team by team preview for the competition.

The return of a former AFL player and club great could be just what the Ararat Rats need to get over their grand final pain of last year in the Wimmera Football League.

Former Carlton player Tom Williamson will return home after his AFL career ended mid-2022 after 44 games for the Blues.

Williams retired due to personal reasons during the middle of the AFL season before finishing his year in the North Melbourne VFL reserves.

Now he returns home in what the club says is the perfect move for him and the Rats.

“It’s fair to say he fell out of love with AFL a little bit,” Ararat president David Hosking said.

“We are his home town club and Tom is a bit of a home body.

“He lived the AFL dream but I think his heart was back home and that’s where he wants to play.”

The AFL’s loss could be just what the Rats need to end their 22-year premiership drought in senior footy.

Ararat last year lost the grand final by seven points to Minyip Murtoa after winning the minor premiership.

Hosking said the loss has inspired the team heading into this year.

“I do know the boys are stung by last year,” he said.

“We felt across the home and away season we were the best team.

“They got very close, everything that could go wrong on grand final day, it did, and they still only lost by seven points.

“They are absolutely focused and it’s nothing to do with redemption but everything to do with this year and they are focused on that (grand final win).”

Minyip Murtoa head into the season as the team to beat after winning the previous two premierships, in 2019 and last year.

Minyip Murtoa celebrate last year's premiership in the Wimmera Football League. Picture: Riley Keel Photography.

The side is confident of success despite losing a couple of players in the off-season, including the reigning Tonley Medallist Kieran Delahunty.

The ruckman is now the coach at the Southern Mallee Giants.

“We’ll be really competitive again that is for sure,” Minyip Murtoa president Scott Arnold said.

“He’s a great player, so obviously we’ll miss him.”

The club is hopeful another Delahunty will fill the void.

Kieran’s cousin Lachie has returned to the region after playing more than 140 games in the WAFL for Subiaco.

Delahunty is a Sandover Medallist (2019) and a two-time premiership player.

“He will be a handy replacement,” Arnold said.

“His family is Minyip Murtoa through and through.

“He’s injected some excitement into the area and his leadership and experience will be invaluable.”

While the Burras and Rats will be the teams to beat, Wimmera Football League president Pauline Butler said the competition would be close.

“We’re set for another cracking season,” she said.

“I think those top three positions will be a real battle.

“We’re hoping it will be nine teams competing to get that finals spot in the final round.”

Butler said she expected Southern Mallee Giants and Dimboola to improve while adding bottom three teams from last year, Nhill and Warrack, have recruited well.

The season starts April 15.

CLUBS: Ararat, Dimboola, Horsham Demons, Horsham Saints, Minyip Murtoa, Nhill, Southern Mallee, Stawell, Warrack.

Reigning Premiers: Minyip Murtoa

Best and Fairest: Kieran Delahunty (Minyip Murtoa)

Leading goalkicker: Mitch Thorp (Stawell)

Bold prediction: Ararat to win the premiership for the first time in 22 years.

Logo of the Wimmera Football Netball League. Picture: Wimmera Football Netball League.

CLUB BY CLUB PREVIEW

Ararat Rats – Got so close last year after winning the minor premiership and losing by seven points in the grand final. The Rats, chasing their first premiership in 22 years, will be among the contenders after keeping the majority of their squad and adding former Carlton player and Rat Tom Williamson during the off-season.

Dimboola Roos – The Roos will have a clean slate in 2023 after having last year impacted by penalties from a salary cap breach in 2021. Despite the handicap the team was competitive and the Roos are expected to be around the mark this year.

Horsham Demons – The Demons might be the most successful team this millennium, winning 13 premierships out of the 21 on offer, but haven’t won one since 2018. The team got close, making the semi final last year, and will be looking to build on it this year.

Horsham Saints – The Saints will be hoping to bounce back after missing the finals last year for the first time in more than a decade last year. The club has signed former Geelong AFL rookie players Ben Johnson and Jarrod Garth.

Minyip-Murtoa Burras – The reigning premiers of the competition will be looking for three premierships in a row after also claiming the title in 2019, the last season before Covid impacted 2020 and 2021. The Burras might have lost a couple of players from last year’s team but have recruited well to be right in contention this season.

Nhill Tigers – The Tigers will be looking to make the finals for the first time since 2010 after finishing bottom last year. In the past three completed seasons the team has won just five games and will be looking to improve on it this year. The club famously won a match last year with former Collingwood and Carlton player Dale Thomas playing for them.

Southern Mallee Giants – Missed the finals for the first time since entering the competition in 2018. The merged club has hired last year’s Toohey Medallist, Kieran Delahunty, as its coach, who is expected to provide plenty of leadership on and off the field. Expect a rise this year from the club.

Stawell Warriors – One of the top teams last year behind Minyip Murtoa and Ararat. The Warriors made the preliminary final last year and will be looking to go one step further this year.

Warrack Eagles – Finished inside the bottom two last year and has recruited well in the off-season, looking to rise up the ladder.