Wimmera league delivers verdict on controversial second semi-final
Wimmera league officials have cleared Ararat's Tom Williamson of making a vilifying gesture during the second semi-final after scrutinising match footage and statements.
Ararat triple premiership hero Tom Williamson has no case to answer for events surrounding him being issued with a red card in the Wimmera league second semi-final more than a fortnight ago.
The former Carlton player played in the preliminary final and grand final as an investigation was carried out following umpires reporting him for allegedly making a “vilifying gesture” towards a Southern Mallee Thunder opponent.
The Wimmera league informed clubs late on Wednesday that the report “will not be pursued any further”.
AFL Victoria rules state that “reasonable measures to establish the facts of the alleged policy breach” be used in the “preliminary conciliation process”.
“The notice of report described an allegation of a vilifying gesture,” the Wimmera Football-Netball League statement to clubs, and also The Weekly Times, said.
“The WFNL, with support from the AFL integrity team, have scrutinised the match vision and provided statements.
“Consequently, the WFNL are not reasonably satisfied that a vilifying act has occurred and as such the notice of report will not be pursued any further.
“However, some persons may now be subject to further investigation under national policies as a result of statements provided.
“The WFNL’s strong position on providing a safe and inclusive environment for our members remains as one of our highest priorities.
“But in this matter we have been charged to make a decision based on evidence and that is what we have done.”
Ararat beat Southern Mallee in the grand final on Saturday and Williamson won the medal for best-on-ground after booting six goals.
He will coach Ararat in 2026.
Ararat president David Hosking said: “I don’t want to take a cheap shot at umpires, particularly with benefit of 20/20 hindsight.
“But it’s a worry where the outcome of an important game is decided by a send off, and then it’s found there is no case to answer.
“I am not sure what you do about that.
“It puts a lot of pressure on umpires to get it right.”
Southern Mallee Thunder has been contacted for comment.
‘NO DOUBT IT TOOK A TOLL’
Ararat champ’s Tom Williamson all clear to play in the Wimmera league grand final on Saturday under controversial circumstances is almost a rinse and repeat scenario an Ovens & Murray league star found himself in two decades ago.
Williamson’s eligibility for the grand final against Southern Mallee at Warracknabeal has been confirmed.
A probe into Williamson allegedly vilifying an opponent in the second semi-final has not been completed and he is free to play.
In 2005, Myrtleford’s Brad Murray was embroiled in a similar firestorm.
Murray was also reported in the second semi-final, but was found guilty and suspended for one match – the grand final.
The ban was overturned on appeal in the days leading up to the grand final when Myrtleford engaged the services of “gun for hire” AFL advocate Iain Findlay, and in the same week Murray won the O&M’s Morris Medal.
“There’s no doubt it took a toll on me mentally,” Murray said.
“My performance in the grand final showed it.
“I was 23 at the time, captain of my hometown club that hadn’t won a flag since 1970.
“We lost, and the rest is history.”
Myrtleford lost by a point when Lavington’s Darryn McKimmie kicked a goal after the siren.
Murray was reported for striking Wangaratta’s Jake Bridges in the second semi.
“To me, the incident was nothing – maybe a free kick at worst,” Murray said.
“But there was no footage, so it came down to my word against the umpire and the opposition.
“They were out to hang me. It was a terrible feeling.
“I was scared I was going to lose the chance to lead my club into a grand final — maybe even a premiership.”
Murray travelled to Melbourne for the appeal held in a MCG back office three days before the grand final.
“The club left no stone unturned, but by then I wasn’t sleeping properly,” he said.
“Walking into the appeal, it honestly felt like I was on trial for a serious crime – like if I lost, I was going to jail.
“Iain Findlay was brilliant, though, and in the end I was found not guilty and free to play.
“I was borderline in tears.”
Findlay’s ability to get Murray off guaranteed him work representing star country footballers at tribunals for the next 20 years.
This year he represented Ryan Pendlebury in an appeal against a seven-match ban for a salary cap bust at Euroa last year.
Murray played in three losing grand finals for Myrtleford, but did play in a WAFL premiership for West Perth in 2003 and another with Rennie at the end of his career.
Williamson, the best player in the Wimmera league, had his season thrown into turmoil when he was red-carded in the second semi.
But under AFL Victoria rules “until a player is ineligible, they are eligible to play”, with the length of time being taken to finalise the case frustrating all parties - most notably Nhill, which lost to Ararat in the preliminary final and Southern Mallee.
Southern Mallee president Luke Puckle declined to comment, but community football advocate John White said: “This is an absolutely disgraceful position adopted by AFL Victoria and has led, not only for the victim, but the wider community, to question the integrity of what is a system designed to stop such occurrences”.
