Ararat cleaned up in the football accolades at the Wimmera Football Netball League awards night on Monday evening.

Senior playing coach Tom Williamson won the Wimmera league’s senior best-and-fairest award for 2026, polling 21 votes ahead of team-mate Ben Taylor, on 19 votes.

Williamson, who was also awarded the senior football coach of the year, was absent from the celebration.

It was Williamson’s second Toohey medal win in three years.

Taylor, who won last year’s Toohey medal, said it was special to have two Ararat players win first and second.

“It’s obviously pretty special to share that with not only my coach, but one of my best mates,” Taylor said.

Williamson polled just eight votes last year, which was a surprise to many.

“He’s just got that ultra consistency, and you just know that he’s going to come and give his best game every single week. 

“I think he was probably a bit hard on himself in the early to middle stages of the season.

“But everyone who comes and watches him, everyone knows that he’s just obviously a class above out there, and it’s a pleasure to watch.”

Taylor said he and Williamson bounced ideas off each other when it came to preparation for a game, training, nutrition and gym sessions.

“I probably didn’t think I would poll as well this year ... I try not to really focus too much about how many Toohey votes I’m getting, I just go out there and win the game for my team each week,” he said.

The league awarded the best under-21 player to Tom Wheaton, of Nhill, and the league goal-kicking award went to Stawell’s Paul Summers who kicked 63 goals during the home-and-away season. 

Others to feature on the leaderboard were Stawell’s Josh Fowkes on 18 votes, Southern Mallee Thunder’s Matty Lloyd, 17 votes, Saints’ Reid Kuller, 15 votes, and Dimboola’s Andrew Moore on 13 votes.

In Reserves football, the Hank Neil best-and-fairest medal went to Ararat’s Alan Batchelor, who finished the season with 22 votes. 

Runner-up was Tim Bone, of Nhill, on 16 votes, while the goal-kicking award went to Ararat’s Jackson Bohner, with 48 goals. 

Winner of the senior women’s football best-and- fairest was Natimuk United’s Emma Van Egmond, who polled seven votes in three games, with the runner-up Violet McGennisken, Laharum, finishing with six votes. 

The recipients of Wimmera league life memberships were Billie Barber, Dimboola, and Stawell Warriors stalwarts Jemma Clarkson and Tom Eckel.

The Wimmera league club championship award went to Horsham Saints. 

The entire September 16, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!