Wimmera: Tom Williamson stars in Good Friday demolition job on Stawell
Ararat’s pursuit of a flag hat-trick has started in the best possible way with a line-up potentially stronger than last year.
Ararat’s pursuit of a premiership hat-trick in the Wimmera league for the first time in 70 years is off to an ominous start after disposing of one of its biggest dangers this season, Stawell, by 96 points in their Good Friday showdown.
Co-coach and reigning Toohey Medal winner Tom Williamson ignited Ararat after quarter time when Stawell made good use of the breeze and led by 17 points.
Ararat turned the match around in the second term to lead by 17 points at halftime before the floodgates opened with 16 goals to two in the second half.
Stawell suffered a blow early in the third term when ruckman Josh Fowkes was yellow-carded for a clash with Williamson, who booted seven of his 10 goals for the match by three quarter time.
Williamson also topped the Wimmera league goalkicking last year, but since returning from Carlton in 2023 had not kicked 10 goals in a match for Ararat.
“He’s flying,” Ararat co-coach Tom Mills said.
“He’s in really good nick.
“He had a really good game in round 1 and followed it up on Friday.
“It’s a great luxury to have.”
Ararat will be further strengthened when Mills returns from a knee injury, but two additions to the team from last year are making their mark early in 2025.
Ararat Eagles recruit Naish McRoberts has bolstered an already strong midfield and former Camperdown player Braydin Draffin has strengthened a backline that has conceded only eight goals in the first two matches.
Ararat won four flags in a row from 1955 under former Essendon player Percy Bushby.
Last year, Ararat won the flag with all one-point players and retained them all.
“We’ve got a lot more depth than we had last year,” he said.
“We didn’t lose a premiership player over summer.
“But we’ve topped up and got a few more players into our reserves which is making things a lot easier.
“Retaining our junior players has been a massive thing.
“In previous years they’ve gone to district leagues.
“We’ve got a lot of young talent coming up which is always nice.”
McRoberts previously played for Stawell and Draffin, who lives on a farm at nearby Buangor, has trained with Ararat in recent seasons.
Ararat plays Dimboola on Saturday and Stawell will be aiming to bounce back against Minyip-Murtoa, which beat Dimboola in the season opener.
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