Nicky Winmar
Encyclopedia
Neil Elvis "Nicky" Winmar (born 25 September 1965 in Pingelly, Western Australia
) is a former Australian Footballer
of an indigenous background who played for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League
.
club South Fremantle
.
) in just his third season.
Winmar made headlines and created an iconic image when he reacted to overt racism from some of the Collingwood crowd at Victoria Park
at the end of a game between St Kilda and Collingwood
. He turned to face the offending segments of the crowd, lifted his guernsey and defiantly pointed to his skin. At the time Winmar felt his gesture was meant to show he had 'guts' in facing up to the racial taunts, but the image of a proud Aboriginal man showing off his brown skin to counter racist taunts from the crowd was exceptionally powerful. Winmar's reaction, along with the incident between Michael Long (Essendon) and Damian Monkhorst
(Collingwood) on Anzac Day
1995, are considered the two most important events resulting in reform in the AFL to stamp out racism, particularly towards Indigenous Australians
. The moment is captured in Jamie Cooper's painting the Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport
Winmar was judged best player on the ground in the 1996 Ansett Australia Cup
Final and awarded the Michael Tuck Medal
.
.
St Kilda qualified for the 1997 AFL Grand Final after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. St Kilda were defeated in the 1997 AFL Grand Final
by 31 points. Winmar showed immense emotional courage during a difficult period for him personally in the 1997 season and played in all three 1997 finals matches including the 1997 AFL Grand Final
.
Winmar played in the 1998 AFL season in which St Kilda qualified for the finals. Winmar played in both 1998 finals matches in which St Kilda were defeated.
Winmar left the St Kilda Football Club at the end of the 1998 AFL season.
Winmar was named in the St Kilda Football Club Team Of The Century 1900–1999 in 2003.
football variety show Live and Kicking, performing "That's Alright" by Elvis Presley
, a reference to his middle name Elvis. It is also around this time when another controversial event occurred with racial overtones. When Winmar failed to appear on the The Footy Show
, Sam Newman
pretended to be him and painted his face black which produced much negative feedback at the time.
Between 1999 and 2001, Winmar played in the Northern Territory Football League
, kicking four goals from full forward in his first game.
In 2003 he played with the Seville Blues in the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League winning the premiership and finishing equal runner up in the best and fairest playing up forward.
In 2006 Winmar played for Rutherglen in the Tallangatta league in North East Victoria and in 2007 joined the Wodonga Saints in the same competition.
In 2007 Winmar was working with Denfam, a Melbourne construction business. He is currently working as a shearer in his home town, Pingelly.
Pingelly, Western Australia
Pingelly is a town and shire located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, from Perth via the Brookton Highway and Great Southern Highway. The town is also located on the Great Southern railway line...
) is a former Australian Footballer
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
of an indigenous background who played for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
AFL career
Winmar was recruited to St Kilda Football Club from West Australian Football LeagueWest Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
club South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
.
1988: Leading goalkicker
A solid debut season in 1987 was followed a 1988 season in which Winmar was St Kilda's leading goalkicker.1989: Best and fairest winner
He won the St Kilda Football Club best and fairest award (now called the Trevor Barker AwardTrevor Barker Award
The Trevor Barker Award is an Australian rules football award for the player voted the St Kilda Football Club Club Champion during the home and away season in the Australian Football League by a voting panel....
) in just his third season.
Winmar made headlines and created an iconic image when he reacted to overt racism from some of the Collingwood crowd at Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Melbourne
Victoria Park is a sports venue in Abbotsford a suburb of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. Built for the purpose of both Australian rules football and cricket, the stadium is oval shaped....
at the end of a game between St Kilda and Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. He turned to face the offending segments of the crowd, lifted his guernsey and defiantly pointed to his skin. At the time Winmar felt his gesture was meant to show he had 'guts' in facing up to the racial taunts, but the image of a proud Aboriginal man showing off his brown skin to counter racist taunts from the crowd was exceptionally powerful. Winmar's reaction, along with the incident between Michael Long (Essendon) and Damian Monkhorst
Damian Monkhorst
Damian Monkhorst is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL/AFL.'Monkey' came to Collingwood from Woori Yallock and made his debut in 1988. The 202cm, 116kg big man was classed as a no.1 ruckman as soon as he got to Victoria Park, and his early career headed him to become a...
(Collingwood) on Anzac Day
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
1995, are considered the two most important events resulting in reform in the AFL to stamp out racism, particularly towards Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
. The moment is captured in Jamie Cooper's painting the Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport
1996: Michael Tuck Medal
Winmar played in St Kilda's 1996 Ansett Australia Cup winning team – St Kilda's first pre-season cup win.Winmar was judged best player on the ground in the 1996 Ansett Australia Cup
1996 Ansett Australia Cup
- Scorecard :-St Kilda Football Club:-Carlton Football Club:- Final Placings :1. St. Kilda 2. Carlton 3. West Coast 4. North Melbourne 5. Collingwood 6. Brisbane 7. Footscray 8. Adelaide 9. Sydney 10. Fremantle 11. Fitzroy 12. Richmond...
Final and awarded the Michael Tuck Medal
Michael Tuck Medal
Since 1992, the Michael Tuck Medal has been awarded to the best-and-fairest player in the AFL Pre-season Cup Final. It is named after Michael Tuck, the current AFL games record holder who played 426 senior matches for the Hawthorn Hawks between 1972 and 1991....
.
1997: Minor premiership and grand final player
Winmar played in 18 of 22 matches in the 1997 season in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals, winning the club’s second minor premiership and first McClelland Trophy1997 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1997.The Port Adelaide Power joined the competition.The Brisbane Lions also joined the competition after the merger of the and ....
.
St Kilda qualified for the 1997 AFL Grand Final after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. St Kilda were defeated in the 1997 AFL Grand Final
1997 AFL Grand Final
-Match details:-References:...
by 31 points. Winmar showed immense emotional courage during a difficult period for him personally in the 1997 season and played in all three 1997 finals matches including the 1997 AFL Grand Final
1997 AFL Grand Final
-Match details:-References:...
.
Winmar played in the 1998 AFL season in which St Kilda qualified for the finals. Winmar played in both 1998 finals matches in which St Kilda were defeated.
Winmar left the St Kilda Football Club at the end of the 1998 AFL season.
Winmar was named in the St Kilda Football Club Team Of The Century 1900–1999 in 2003.
Post AFL career
In 1998, Winmar appeared on Seven NetworkSeven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
football variety show Live and Kicking, performing "That's Alright" by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, a reference to his middle name Elvis. It is also around this time when another controversial event occurred with racial overtones. When Winmar failed to appear on the The Footy Show
The AFL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award winning Australian sports television program, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates.This show, which is dedicated to the AFL and Australian rules football, made its debut on 24 March 1994 at the same time as the other version which relates to the NRL and rugby...
, Sam Newman
Sam Newman
John Noel William "Sam" Newman is a retired Australian rules football player and current television personality. He is a featured presenter on the AFL version of The Footy Show.-VFL career:...
pretended to be him and painted his face black which produced much negative feedback at the time.
Between 1999 and 2001, Winmar played in the Northern Territory Football League
Northern Territory Football League
The Northern Territory Football League is an 8 team Australian rules football semi-professional league operating in Darwin in the Northern Territory.The premier grade is the largest Australian rules football league in the Northern Territory...
, kicking four goals from full forward in his first game.
In 2003 he played with the Seville Blues in the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League winning the premiership and finishing equal runner up in the best and fairest playing up forward.
In 2006 Winmar played for Rutherglen in the Tallangatta league in North East Victoria and in 2007 joined the Wodonga Saints in the same competition.
In 2007 Winmar was working with Denfam, a Melbourne construction business. He is currently working as a shearer in his home town, Pingelly.