The lost Blue who rediscovered his love of football
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When Carlton take to the Gabba in Saturday nightâs preliminary final, former Blue Tom Williamson will be watching from the family home in Ararat with his feet up after a week working at the local prison and with a premiership of his own.
The 24-year-old, who was the Bluesâ unused sub in last yearâs opening-round win over Richmond, walked away from the AFL in mid-2022 to focus on his mental health, deciding, after 44 games and nearly six years in the system, that the top tier wasnât for him.
A three-year-old Tom Williamson is carried through the banner by his father Allister in 2001, the last time Ararat won a premiership.
He moved home to Ararat and last weekend was part of the team that won the clubâs first flag in 21 years, the Rats defeating the Greater Mallee Giants. When Ararat last claimed the Wimmera League premiership, Williamson was the three-year-old team mascot carried through the banner by his dad Allister, who played in the win.
Today, Williamson not only has a medal around his neck, but heâs rediscovered his love of the game, is thriving back home in the Wimmera surrounded by family and friends and works in maintenance at Hopkins Correctional Centre, the townâs medium-security prison.
âWhere I was at last year, footy wasnât going well, I was away from family and mates and I think I was in a poor place mentally. Coming back home allowed me to have a good support network around me and the Ararat footy club has been massive, wrapping their arms around me from the word go,â he said.
âI canât speak highly enough of my family [parents Allister and Janeen and sisters Courtney, Jess and Lauri] and the work they did in that time to lift me out of the little hole I was in and bounce back, so thatâs why this is even more special to me.
Williamson in action for the Blues.Credit: Getty Images
âItâs the change I needed and the right fit for me.â
Like so many kids, Williamson grew up wanting to play at the highest level but amid the cut and thrust of professional football, he realised what really made him happy â living and playing in the country.
âIâve dreamt of playing in a flag with Ararat my whole life. Stepping away was the right decision for me and to now come home and experience what I have this year, I wouldnât change it for the world,â he said.
âI wouldnât go back and play AFL footy now if I had the chance, I just donât think it was right for me. Outside looking in you mightnât think it [because Iâve played AFL] but the last few months have been the best of my life.
âIn Melbourne, how I felt anyway, it was basically a job and I was so anxious with performance anxiety. Here, you play for your mates, your town and community. You rock up, nobody cares if you had a bad game, your mates are still your mates and everyone who loves you for who you are not because youâre a footballer.
Williamson (second from right) was thrilled to be part of the team that broke Araratâs premiership drought and to share the moment with family and friends.
âWhen the siren sounded on grand final day, I was an emotional mess, just crying. Everyone ran on the ground, family come up to you, your partner, hugging my closest mates straight away is just something Iâll never forget.â
Williamson is simply âTommyâ around town and at work nobody cares what he used to do for a living.
âScott Turner [Ararat legend and former 144-game Richmond player] works at the prison as well and the first few couple of days he asked me if anyone knew me. They didnât,â he said.
âItâs a very interesting job, obviously I hadnât been inside a prison before. Iâve been into a few cells and some have all Carlton stuff on the walls, itâs a bit weird.â
By sharing his tale, Williamson hopes those struggling might tap into their own courage.
âI think thereâd be athletes all over the world, and just people in general, who feel similar, you live it and do it every day and it becomes you and I think thatâs where a lot of the struggles come from because thereâs a person behind all that and thatâs the most important bit.
âAt Carlton, it was always âyouâre a person first and footballer second so put all your time and effort into that first and footy and your life will improve off the back of itâ.
âYouâve got to just listen to yourself, know what youâre feeling and have the courage and support around you to work out what it is thatâs making you unhappy and make changes to your life.â
Williamson and his dad, a former Richmond supporter who became and remains a passionate Bluebagger, will tune in together on Saturday evening.
âI still keep in contact with a few people and look, you just canât miss what theyâve done this season, itâs been pretty amazing. Hopefully they can get into a grand final and then anythingâs possible.â
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