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.
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
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
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 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.
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
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