Sport
24 September, 2025
Rats power to third straight premiership
Ararat are kings of the Wimmera Football Netball League again, following a 53-point win over the Southern Mallee Thunder at Anzac Park, Warracknabeal.
It was only two weeks prior that these two teams met in a fiery clash, with the Thunder handing the Rats their first loss of the season to the tune of seven points in the second semi-final.
Despite having the week off, the Thunder came out to play, drawing first blood with Kai Sheers booting the first goal of the game, as they dominated the first quarter to lead 2.3.15 to 1.1.7 at quarter-time.
Despite the Thunder controlling the game, the Rats stuck with them and started to get on top in the second quarter.
Tom Williamson kicked truly to put them in front for the first time just before half-time, and they led 4.5.29 to 4.4.28.
The Rats dominated the early part of the third quarter and kicked five goals, with Brody Griffin standing out, to lead by 26 points at three-quarter time.
In their last match, the Thunder came from four goals down in the last to win, so the coach's message at three-quarter time was clear – to run out the match and back themselves in.
They did just that, kicking another four goals to two behinds to run out 13.13.91 to 5.8.38 winners.
Tom Williamson kicked six goals and was awarded the Greg Binns medal for best player on the ground. Brody Griffin and Naish McRoberts kicked two apiece, while Cody Lindsay, Ben Taylor, and Hugh Toner hit the scoreboard.
James Jennings, Harry Ganley, Ethan Summers, Ben Taylor, Baydn Cosgriff, and Riley Taylor were also among the best players on the ground, alongside Hugh Toner, who was awarded the best under-21 player.
Rats co-coach Tom Mills said they always had the confidence.
“At half-time, it was close, and we had full confidence with the way we train, and our fitness, alongside our past performances and games through the year, that we would run out the game strong,” Mills said.
Tom Williamson said it’s an amazing feeling to be a three-time premiership player, and he commended his teammates.
“It’s very amazing, and I can’t put it into words,” Williamson said.
“The amount of work everyone has put in, not only this year, but over the last three years, has helped them stand up in big moments, and pressure comes in finals footy, and all our blokes are ready for it.
“I can’t be prouder of Tom, all the way down to the last player on our list. The reserves missed out, but they are the reason why we are so strong.”
“The likes of Naish McRoberts stood up last week, Brody Griffin’s last two weeks have been unbelievable, and Jake Robinson has been his reliable self and shows up consistently for us,” Williamson said.
“You only need to look back at today and the moments. The constant pressure we put on them. We won contests when it mattered.
“We were really happy with the game up until half-time. We controlled the game and had territory, and our backs set up well behind the ball, and we probably should have hit the scoreboard more in the first half, but we knew we had the run in the legs, so we knew that if we could win the contest and get territory, that we had the fitness to run it out.”
The club has faced a lot of adversity over the last three weeks from the A-Grade netball debacle, their last match against the Thunder were Williamson got two yellow cards, one of which is currently under investigation, and Williamson praised club president David Hosking for the way he has not only handled that, but also how much he has done for the club over the last few years.
“It’s been a tough month for Hock [David Hosking] and our footy club as a whole, and Hock as a leader is exceptional and he doesn’t get enough credit,” Williamson said.
“It’s now a good time to make a shout-out for the amount of work he does behind the scenes, and how he conducts himself is a testament to him and a reason why our club is in a strong position,” Williamson concluded.
“He brings everyone together, and you can see with our supporters that we are one big family,” Tom Mills said.
On the presentation stage, David Hosking said he was proud.
“I am proud of the club, the committee, the sponsors, the supporters, but most of all, the players,” Hosking said.
“Our players are fantastic, not in football, but in life, and I’m incredibly proud of them.
“I’m proud of the way that they conduct themselves as human beings, I’m proud of the way they carry themselves and how they’ve behaved in the last few weeks under a fair bit of duress and pressure. That’s when you find out how good your people are, and ours are first class.”
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