A Victorian footy club has been heavily criticized for glorifying a player who was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. Tyrendarra Football Netball Club, located in southwest Victoria, announced in October last year that it had re-signed James “Jimmy” Nicholas Williams, a convicted child sex offender. In a tone-deaf Instagram post, the club described him as a “classy midfielder” and the “kind of player who lifts the team when it matters most.”
The club, which prides itself on being a “family-driven community where grassroots footy and netty” thrive on “good country values,” has faced intense backlash for its decision. Williams pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl inside Adelaide’s Hindley Street Music Hall during an end-of-year footy trip in September 2022. He spent 14 months behind bars.
Legal and Community Outrage
Andrew Carpenter, from Websters Lawyers, accused the club of prioritizing a convicted child sex offender over the safety of women and children. “The fact they are doubling down on this and allowing a convicted child sex offender to play ... shows the club is going to be on the wrong side of history,” he told news.com.au. He added that the club is “giving a child sex offender a second chance before giving the victim-survivor a first chance.” Carpenter also criticized the club’s post describing Williams as a standard-setter, saying the club “needs to consult with a dictionary.”
Sherele Moody, an award-winning journalist and femicide researcher, has led calls for Tyrendarra to drop Williams. She has faced online threats as a result. “I can’t help but feel they are putting the needs of a child sex abuser over the safety of girls and women. I hope they lose every sponsor and families walk away,” she told news.com.au. She described being threatened for highlighting the club’s decision as “deeply disturbing.”
Details of the Assault
According to multiple media reports, Williams was intoxicated when he approached the schoolgirl at a concert in Adelaide’s CBD and asked for her Snapchat. He then began kissing her and forced his hand underneath her skirt. The victim repeatedly begged him to stop, but Williams continued the sexual assault until the girl’s mother noticed and intervened. He was ejected by security and later bragged to a friend that he had been kicked out because he “f*****ed a bird hahaha.” Williams pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a person under 17 and was sentenced in 2024 to 14 months in jail, with a six-month non-parole period.
Club’s Response and Fallout
The ABC has reported that female players are now leaving the club. Following the backlash, the club issued a statement in late May calling on members to “refrain from making comments publicly.” On June 2, it held a “parents meeting” to provide “factual information and context” about reappointing Williams. The original Instagram post and subsequent statement appear to have been removed from the club’s website and social media channels. The club has been approached for comment but has not responded.
