Wimmera: Ararat’s Tom Williamson the best country footballer this season

With another country footy season almost done and dusted attention turns to assessing who were the best players of 2024. Here is our best 50.

Ararat’s Tom Williamson has been crowned The Weekly Times’ No.1 player in country footy in 2024.

His return to Ararat from a 44-match career with Carlton has coincided with its emergence as one of the Wimmera league’s power clubs again.

Williamson played in the club’s drought-breaking premiership win last year before taking on the co-coaching role with flag-winning teammate Tom Mills and winning another flag on Saturday.

Williamson has played mostly in the Ararat midfield and been a nightmare match-up for opposition clubs.

But what separated him from the hundreds of other players across the state this season was the amount of goals he also kicked.

Tom Williamson has dominated for Ararat in his first season as co-coach of Ararat. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

He booted 64 goals to help Ararat make the grand final, including four in the final term of the second semi-final when the match against Southern Mallee Thunder was in the balance early in the last term.

A one-match suspension robbed Williamson of the Toohey Medal in a premiership-winning season last year, but he more than made amends this season when he polled 26 votes to win.

1 Tom Williamson, Ararat, Wimmera

Only player from last year’s Top 10 to make the cut in 2024. Thrived on added responsibility of co-coaching for the first time. Worthy winner of the Toohey Medal after suspension denied him the honour last year.

2 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst, Bendigo

Sandhurst’s Lachlan Tardrew tied with Gisborne pair Brad Bernacki and Braidon Blake in the Bendigo league’s Michelsen Medal. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Played every match for Sandhurst and was named in the Dragons’ best in every one of them. Averaged close to 40 possessions a match to reap the rewards of a work ethic envied across the league. Capped off an incredible season with best-on-ground performance in premiership win over Gisborne.

3 Jett Bermingham, North Warrnambool, Hampden

Became a dual Maskell Medal winner in a team that was first into the grand final. Massive workrate enables him to impact at high number of stoppages during a match.

4 Willie Wheeler, Yarrawonga, Ovens & Murray

Yarrawonga’s Willie Wheeler won the Morris Medal this season in the Ovens & Murray league. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Key cog in the competition’s best midfield brigade. Former Williamstown star and ball magnet won the Morris Medal from a star-studded chasing pack.

5 Riley Baldi, Moe, Gippsland

Hardworking midfielder who began strongly and maintained a high output right to the end. Won the Trood Award and Rodda Medal after returning full-time to Moe after seven games in the VFL last year.

6 Jarrod Brander, Wentworth, Sunraysia

Former AFL player back in his home patch for a second season and dominated up forward in a team that lost the grand final by three points. Kicked 92 goals in 2024 including 24 in four finals.

7 Tom Marriott, Leongatha, Gippsland

Leongatha’s Tom Marriott playing against Sale. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Leongatha legend who went within one vote of becoming a three-time winner of the Trood Award and Rodda Medal in a season when he also played his 200th match for the Parrots.

8 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne, Bendigo

Midfield star credited with 53 touches in one match as he returned to Gisborne on a permanent basis. Broke through for a richly deserved Michelsen Medal after two runner-up finishes.

9 Ash Holland, Shepparton Bears, Goulburn Valley

Comfortably made the transition back into GV ranks after three seasons in the Picola District league to be massive part of Shepparton’s charge to a grand final.

10 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas, Central Murray

Midfield maestro of the Central Murray, who won a second Jack Betts Medal in a team that recovered from a slow start to make finals.

Echuca’s Jack McHale playing against Rochester. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

11 Jack McHale, Echuca, Goulburn Valley

12 Sam Murray, Wangaratta Rovers, Ovens & Murray

13 Braidon Blake, Gisborne, Bendigo

14 Perry Lewis-Smith, Yarrawonga, Ovens & Murray

15 Connor McDonald, Tooleybuc-Manangatang, Central Murray

16 Matt Johnston, East Point, Ballarat

17 Flynn Lakey, Gisborne, Bendigo

18 Ben Cunnington, Warrnambool, Hampden

19 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst, Bendigo

20 Liam Hoy, Koroit, Hampden

21 Sam Beasley, Cobram, Murray

22 Zach Zdybel, Colac, Geelong

23 Bryce Hards, Imperials, Sunraysia

24 Mitch Trewhella, Rochester, Goulburn Valley

25 Tim Broomhead, North Albury, Ovens & Murray

26 Kyle Mueller, Congupna, Murray

27 Josh Nitschke, Kerang, Central Murray

28 Brodie Filo, Wangaratta Rovers, Ovens & Murray

29 Jake Thrum, Irymple, Sunraysia

30 Shannon Beks, South Warrnambool, Hampden

31 Brett Bewley, Darley, Ballarat

32 Jake McQueen, Nhill, Wimmera

33 Kane Morris, Echuca, Goulburn Valley

34 Liam Betson, St Josephs, Geelong

35 Jack Russell, Moama, Murray

36 Harry Allen, Mallee Eagles, Central Murray

37 Tom Eckel, Stawell, Wimmera

38 Tye Hourigan, Traralgon, Gippsland

39 Billy Lloyd, Southern Mallee Thunder, Wimmera

40 Wade Donnan, Sea Lake-Nandaly, North Central

41 Matt Sully, Port Fairy, Hampden

42 Jai Thompson, Harrow-Balmoral, Horsham District

43 Josh Rentsch, Penshurst, Mininera District

44 Julian Hayes, North Albury, Ovens & Murray

45 Billy Cooper, Congupna, Murray

46 Nic Rippon, Birchip-Watchem, North Central

47 Shannen Lange, Sale, Gippsland

48 Matt Boag, Torquay, Bellarine

49 James Lloyd, Murchison-Toolamba, Kyabram District

50 Ethan Curran, Nyah Nyah West United, Central Murray

Originally published as Wimmera: Ararat’s Tom Williamson the best country footballer this season