Football
25 September, 2025
Williamson cleared of vilifying gesture
More than a fortnight after it was alleged Ararat star Tom Williamson made a vilifying gesture during the side's second semi clash against Southern Mallee Thunder, the former AFL player has been cleared.
For Ararat president, David Hosking, the decision brought relief, not only for the club, but mainly for Williamson himself.
"The accusations were that it was a racist gesture, and then there have been some statements or suggestions made that he said something that was interpreted to be racist," explained Hosking.
"Tom Williamson is not a racist, and that is the key thing here: Tom Williamson is not a racist, and he was being called a racist on Saturday, and that's not right.
"One of his good mates when he was a kid was born in Vietnam, and he worked for that guy's stepfather, and we've got kids in our club that are of African descent, we've got First Nations people, and to have our coach being labelled as racist is, well, it's not right and it's not true."
Clubs received a statement earlier this week from the Wimmera Football Netball League, stating that, in conjunction with the AFL Integrity team, an investigation took place after a notice of report was lodged.
In the statement, the league declared, “The WFNL is not reasonably satisfied that a vilifying act has occurred and as such the Notice of Report will not be pursued any further.”
The circumstances surrounding the incident saw Williamson handed his second yellow card of the game, resulting in his ejection from the match.
Williamson was deemed free to play in his side’s preliminary and grand final games as the investigation took place, and he was named best on ground in the club’s premiership win over the Thunder on Saturday.
Hosking praised the mental resilience of Williamson, acknowledging that earning himself a best on ground in the grand final under such scrutiny was an incredible effort.
"Because what people don't see, and what I get to see, is the effect it has on him, and his family," Hosking said.
"And for him to be able to work through that, process it, and then be able to get out on the field and do what he did, is just a mighty effort, and he ought to be congratulated."
Hosking shared he sent Williamson a text a couple of days before the Grand Final, saying he would be right to play in the decider for the season.
"He didn't find out until late Thursday that he was 100 per cent right to play, and there were some people sitting with him when he got that message, and they said his entire demeanour changed immediately," the president said.
"He was a different guy; clearly under a lot of pressure and stress, but just to be able to get out there and play footy, it was a massive relief for him."
Hosking agreed that behind one of the best players in the league was a human.
"Absolutely, you are 100 per cent right," he said.
"Particularly the keyboard warriors that are on social media, that has been vile.
"What they don't understand is there is a human behind all that, and they have all made their mind up, mainly on hearsay, on what he is alleged to have done in the past.
"What they are perceiving, a lot of them, just didn't happen.
"And it's easy, because here is this guy, who made it to the big time and has had a fall from grace, and they can unload on him.
"It makes them feel better about themselves, and if that is what you have to do to feel better about yourself, then you have a pretty sad existence; that is all I will say."
Hosking said people don't see the time Williamson puts into the club's youngsters, like their Auskick group.
"How many Auskick groups around the country get to have an ex-AFL player come and kick the ball with eight-year-olds, for nothing, out of his day, out of his time?" Hosking asked.
"I know what I see, and he's a person of quality, he's maturing, and I think he will get past all this eventually."
Bart Turgoose, acting chair of the WFNL, was satisfied that an in-depth investigation had occurred, in accordance with league and AFL policy.
“As an affiliated body with AFL, we're governed by our bylaws, by our policies at AFL administration, and everything's been followed through to the nth degree, by the policy, by the bylaws, by the rules that are given to us in the game,” Turgoose said.
“That's the whole reason that we do the policy, for these scenarios, so when there is a report made, it gets followed through in a fair manner, and everyone gets their voice heard, their opinion heard, their side of the story heard."
He continued that the Wimmera Football Netball League, with support from the AFL integrity team, has obviously scrutinised all divisions and gotten statements from the affected parties.
“There's a thing in our bylaws that we've got to be reasonably satisfied that something has occurred, and we weren't reasonably satisfied," added Turgoose.
With Williamson cleared of the alleged gesture, Turgoose said that some persons may be subject to investigation in relation to statements put forward during the process.
“There'll be further follow-up and investigation, in accordance with other policies, just regarding some statements provided,” Turgoose said.
Ararat's premiership capped off a challenging end of season for the football netball club, which, apart from the investigation into Williamson, also included a controversial finish to the elimination final in which the A Grade side was deemed to have lost.
But despite this, Hosking said the club is committed to a future with the Wimmera Football Netball League.
"There are certain things we haven't been happy with, and it's not just us, it's other clubs too," Hosking said.
"But that is always going to be the case.
"And what I would encourage the league to do is have a pretty honest review from how the season went from their perspective and look at are there things they can do better.
"We'll do that as a club, and hopefully they will do that as a league, and I think we can move forward."
Hosking reiterated that the club wasn't doing anywhere, and there would be a lot to consider before that decision was made - more than just football seniors.
"And if something like that was to happen, it would take a long time to put in place, but we're just not in the position where it is something we are looking at," Hosking said.
