Nicky Winmar’s Stand Against Racism: History and Accountability

17 April

Content note: This page discusses racism and domestic and family violence. You can choose whether to read on. Support contacts appear below.

On 17 April 1993, St Kilda footballer Nicky Winmar lifted his guernsey and pointed to his skin after racist abuse from spectators at Victoria Park in Melbourne. The photograph became an enduring statement of Aboriginal pride and resistance to racism. His teammate Gilbert McAdam also experienced racial abuse that day. Remembering this event requires both historical accuracy and accountability for Winmar’s later violence against a woman.

What happened at Victoria Park

The National Museum of Australia records Winmar’s gesture as a defining moment in Australian history. Rather than accepting racist abuse as part of attending or playing football, his response made that treatment publicly visible. The anniversary also recognises McAdam’s experience, rather than reducing a shared history to a single photograph.

The event belongs within a longer struggle by Aboriginal players and communities for safety and respect. Michael Long’s stand in 1995 was another important moment in the development of the AFL’s racial and religious vilification policy. Neither event ended racism in football.

Domestic violence conviction and subsequent proceedings

In 2026, Winmar was convicted of three assault offences against a woman following an attack at Cohuna, Victoria, in May 2025. On 28 August 2026, he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and a 12-month community corrections order. ABC News reported that he appealed both the conviction and sentence and was released on bail. This account records the proceedings as reported on that date; it does not state that an appeal has been decided.

The AFL removed Winmar from its Australian Football Hall of Fame following the conviction. Its announcement acknowledged his place in football history while rejecting violence against women. The historical importance of the 1993 anti-racism stand does not excuse domestic violence. Responsibility for violence rests with the person who uses it; victim-survivors’ safety, dignity and experiences matter.

Reflecting on the anniversary

A school, club or workplace can examine what the 1993 image communicated, whose experiences it made visible and what organisations did in response. A separate discussion can consider how public history records an important act without presenting the person involved as beyond criticism or accountability.

Participation should be a choice. Do not ask people to disclose experiences of racism or violence, defend an individual, or speak for all First Nations people. Avoid graphic descriptions and keep support information easy to find.

Sources and further reading

Online sources

Nicky Winmar’s stand. National Museum of Australia. Historical account of 17 April 1993.
https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/nicky-winmars-stand

Winmar removed from Hall of Fame after assault conviction. AFL. The AFL’s response to the conviction.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1561270/former-st-kilda-player-nicky-winmar-removed-from-hall-of-fame-after-assault-conviction

Nicky Winmar appealing jail term for assaulting woman. ABC News, 28 August 2026, updated 29 August. Court reporting covering the sentence, appeal and bail.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-28/nicky-winmar-afl-sentenced-assault-woman/107083820

Guide to addressing spectator racism in sports. Australian Human Rights Commission. Practical guidance for sporting organisations on preventing and responding to spectator racism.
https://humanrights.gov.au/resource-hub/by-resource-type/publications/race/guide-addressing-spectator-racism-sports-2021

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this anniversary. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.