Ararat’s Tom Williamson is free to play after successfully challenging suspension after contact with Southern Mallee Thunder player

After emerging as a AFL mid-season draft bolter, Tom Williamson has learned his fate over a striking charge at a country footy tribunal hearing.

Ararat’s Tom Williamson will fight a suspension charge on Thursday. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

AFL mid-season draft hopeful and country footy star Tom Williamson has seen a striking charge overturned at the tribunal.

The Ararat co-coach and former Carlton player was found not guilty of a striking charge at would have ruled him ineligible to win Wimmera league’s Toohey Medal for the second time in three seasons.

It comes after this masthead revealed the 26-year-old has nominated for next week’s draft as he looks to get back into the AFL.

Carlton drafted Williamson from the North Ballarat Rebels in 2016 and he played 44 AFL games before leaving the Blues midway through the 2021 season.

Williamson contested the charge for striking Southern Mallee Thunder’s Kai Sheers to the head at the tribunal on Thursday night rather than take a one-match set penalty with an early guilty plea.

No report was made by the umpires of the incident which took place in the first quarter.

Based on an umpire referral post-match, the Wimmera league match review officer subsequently graded the strike as intentional with high contact.

But the impact was assessed as low with Sheers, who received a free kick, did not leave the ground.

Williamson was represented by Ararat president David Hosking and Sheers provided his evidence by phone hook up.

Only seven AFL clubs currently have picks ahead of next Tuesday’s cut-off.

EARLIER

Tom Williamson and Ararat will head to the tribunal on Thursday night looking to overturn a suspension which could make him ineligible for the Wimmera league best and fairest for the second time in three years.

The former Carlton player has been given a two-week suspension after an incident with Southern Mallee Thunder player Kai Sheers last Saturday during the Rats’ 52-point win.

Footage shows Williamson making contact to Sheers’ face after both tussle for position as the umpire prepares to throw the ball up in the middle of the ground during the first quarter.

An out of zone umpire has then awarded a free kick to Sheers with Williamson seen talking to the umpire.

An umpire referral following the match has seen Williamson charged with striking another person with the match review panel deeming the incident intentional with high contact and low impact.

The match review panel handed down a two-game suspension to Williamson, which could be one week with an early guilty plea.

Tom Williamson has kicked 22 goals in four games for Ararat this season. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Ararat president David Hosking confirmed the club has opted not to take the offer, instead fighting the charge at the tribunal.

An AFL Victoria spokesperson confirmed Williamson’s hearing will take place on Thursday night.

If Williamson’s appeal isn’t overturned, he will face two weeks on the sidelines and rule him out of the Toohey Medal for the second time in three years.

In 2023, he had the most votes in the best and fairest count, but was ruled ineligible for the award after serving a week suspension for striking.

Williamson is in contention this year for the award after starting the season in stunning form, kicking 22 goals in four games and being named among the best in all matches.

Originally published as Ararat’s Tom Williamson is free to play after successfully challenging suspension after contact with Southern Mallee Thunder player