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When Carlton take to the Gabba in Saturday night\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old, who was the Blues\u2019 unused sub in last year\u2019s 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 wasn\u2019t for him.<\/p>\n
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A three-year-old Tom Williamson is carried through the banner by his father Allister in 2001, the last time Ararat won a premiership.<\/span><\/p>\n He moved home to Ararat and last weekend was part of the team that won the club\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Today, Williamson not only has a medal around his neck, but he\u2019s 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 town\u2019s medium-security prison.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere I was at last year, footy wasn\u2019t 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t 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 that\u2019s why this is even more special to me.<\/p>\n Williamson in action for the Blues.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the change I needed and the right fit for me.\u201d<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 living and playing in the country.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve 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 wouldn\u2019t change it for the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t go back and play AFL footy now if I had the chance, I just don\u2019t think it was right for me. Outside looking in you mightn\u2019t think it [because I\u2019ve played AFL] but the last few months have been the best of my life.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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 you\u2019re a footballer.<\/p>\n Williamson (second from right) was thrilled to be part of the team that broke Ararat\u2019s premiership drought and to share the moment with family and friends.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen 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 I\u2019ll never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n Williamson is simply \u201cTommy\u201d around town and at work nobody cares what he used to do for a living.<\/p>\n \u201cScott 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 didn\u2019t,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a very interesting job, obviously I hadn\u2019t been inside a prison before. I\u2019ve been into a few cells and some have all Carlton stuff on the walls, it\u2019s a bit weird.\u201d<\/p>\n By sharing his tale, Williamson hopes those struggling might tap into their own courage.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019d 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 that\u2019s where a lot of the struggles come from because there\u2019s a person behind all that and that\u2019s the most important bit.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Carlton, it was always \u2018you\u2019re 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 it\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to just listen to yourself, know what you\u2019re feeling and have the courage and support around you to work out what it is that\u2019s making you unhappy and make changes to your life.\u201d<\/p>\n Williamson and his dad, a former Richmond supporter who became and remains a passionate Bluebagger, will tune in together on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n \u201cI still keep in contact with a few people and look, you just can\u2019t miss what they\u2019ve done this season, it\u2019s been pretty amazing. Hopefully they can get into a grand final and then anything\u2019s possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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