Former St Kilda player Nicky Winmar has been removed from the Australian Football Hall of Fame and had his statue torn down after being convicted of assaulting a woman.
The 60-year-old was found guilty of three charges of unlawful and common assault in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court. The charges stemmed from allegations that Winmar grabbed a woman by the arm, dragged her by the hair, and struck her head against a door on May 14 of the previous year.
The conviction has led to significant consequences, including the suspension of Winmar from the St Kilda Hall of Fame. Additionally, a statue honoring his iconic stand against racism was removed from Perth's Optus Stadium.
The statue, erected in 2019, depicted the 1993 moment when Winmar lifted his jersey and pointed to his skin after experiencing racist abuse during a match. The West Australian government, under Premier Roger Cook, ordered its removal. Cook stated that "Violence against women is never acceptable, and it is important we send a strong message to the community." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supported the decision, affirming that "There is no place for violence against women anywhere in Australia."
Workers used a crane to dismantle the statue in the early hours of a Sunday morning, shortly after the verdict was handed down on Friday. The artwork was commissioned by the AFL and created by sculptor Louis Laumen.
Winmar was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2022. During his 251-game AFL career, he played for the St Kilda Saints and the Western Bulldogs. He was also the first Indigenous footballer to reach 200 games in the AFL.
The statue is reportedly to be placed in storage until its future is determined. Sculptor Louis Laumen expressed sadness over the statue's removal but reiterated that he does not condone Winmar's actions. Former Western Australian Sports Minister Mick Murray also voiced disappointment in Winmar's actions but expressed that the statue held significant meaning for many people.
