Ararat Football Club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ararat Football / Netball Club | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Names | ||
| Full name | Ararat Football Netball Club | |
| Nickname | Rats | |
| 2025 season | ||
| After finals | 1st | |
| Home-and-away season | 1st | |
| Pre-season | 1st | |
| Leading goalkicker | Tom Williamson (71) | |
| Olver Memorial Medal | Tom Williamson | |
| Club details | ||
| Founded | 1871 | |
| Colours | ||
| Competition | Wimmera Football League | |
| President | David Hosking | |
| Coach | Tom Williamson | |
| Premierships | (22): 1903, 1904, 1905, 1908, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1920, 1949, 1951, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1971, 1975, 1986, 1999, 2001, 2023, 2024, 2025 | |
| Ground | Alexandra Oval, Ararat (capacity: 8,000) | |
| Uniforms | ||
| ||
| Other information | ||
| Official website | https://araratfootballnetball.com.au/ | |
The Ararat Football Club, nicknamed the Rats, is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the city of Ararat, Victoria. The football team currently competes in the Wimmera Football League (WFL).[1]
Formed in 1871, Ararat won eight premierships in the Wimmera and District Football Association during the early 20th century.
When Ararat won the 1912 premiership, the winning team was presented with 20 combination sets of a jam spoon, bread fork and a butter knife.[2]
From 1924 to 1928, they played in the Ballarat Football League. They did not return to the Wimmera District Football League until 1930, as they were forced to sit out of the competition for a year as punishment for their earlier defection. From 1934 to 1936 they took part in Ballarat-Wimmera FL.
The Wimmera Football League was reformed in 1937 and Ararat have participated since the beginning. They are the second most successful club in the league in terms of premierships, behind Horsham.
Their greatest era came in the 1950s when they won four consecutive premierships, under former Essendon player Percy Bushby at the helm.[3]
Football Premierships
- Seniors
- Wimmera Football League (14)
- 1949, 1951, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1971, 1975, 1986, 1999, 2001, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Reserves
- Wimmera Football League (11)
- 1973, 1978, 1981, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2019, 2023
- Thirds
- Wimmera Football League (15)
- 1978, 1982, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022,
Netball Premierships
- A. Grade
- 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997
- B. Grade
- 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1991
- C. Grade
- ?
- C. Reserve
- ?
- 17 & Under
- 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989
League Best & Fairest
- Senior Football
- Ballarat Wimmera Football League - George McKenzie Medal
- 1934 - E Ted Bourke[14]
- Wimmera Football League - Pat J Toohey Medal
- 1956 - Jack Antonio
- 1963 - Jim Bonner
- 1971 - Leo Maloney
- 1973 - Laurie Stephens
- 1992 - Glen Antonio (son of Jack Antonio)
- 2002 - Matt Jackson
- 2003 - Dale Bligh
- 2008 - Allen Batchelor
- 2018 - Dale Mendes
- 2023 - Jake Robinson
- 2024 - Tom Williamson
- 2025 - Ben Taylor
- Reserves
- Wimmera Football League
- 1976 - Peter Shearer
- 1979 - Shane Todd
- 1991 - Mick Spalding
- 1998, 1999, 2000 - Darren Bahl
- Thirds
- Wimmera Football League
- 1980 - Dave Williams
- 1982 - Murray McKinnis
- 1996 - Shane Krings
- 2003 - Alan Batchelor
- 2012, 2013 - Alex Laidlaw
- 2016 - Jack Antonio
- 2017 - Corri Corrigan
League Goalkicking
- Seniors
- 1946 - Dick Drever: 68[15]
- 1950 - Bill Smeaton: 110 (120)[16]
- 1954 - Bill Smeaton: 50+[17]
- 1955 - Bill Smeaton: 128 [18]
