Neil Elvis "Nicky" Winmar (born 25 September 1965) is a former Australian rules footballer best known for his career for and the in the Australian Football League (AFL), as well as in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).
A Noongar man from the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, he was the first Aboriginal footballer to play 200 games in the AFL, and was named on the half-forward flank in the Indigenous Team of the Century in 2005. Winmar began his career with South Fremantle, playing 58 games at the club before being recruited prior to the 1987 season by St Kilda. In a twelve-season career with St Kilda, Winmar won the club's best and fairest award, the Trevor Barker Award in 1989 and 1995, and was also twice named in the All-Australian team.
Like many other Aboriginal footballers, Winmar was subjected to racial abuse during his career. Following a 1993 match, Winmar famously responded to racist heckling from opposition fans by lifting his guernsey and pointing to his skin―a moment captured in a photograph that quickly became a symbol of Aboriginal pride and is widely regarded as a catalyst for the AFL's efforts to address racism within the game. Described as one of the most memorable images in Australian sporting history, it has had a lasting impact on Australian sporting culture.
Winmar left St Kilda at the end of the 1998 season and was drafted by the Western Bulldogs, playing one further season in the AFL before retiring at the end of the 1999 season. Having represented Western Australia in eight interstate matches, Winmar was named in St Kilda's Team of the Century in 2003 and was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2009. Winmar was also part of the Australian Football Hall of Fame from 2022 to 2026, before being removed after being convicted of assaulting a woman in 2026. His status in the St Kilda Hall of Fame is currently suspended.
Early life Neil Elvis Winmar was born on 25 September 1965 in Kellerberrin, Western Australia,Hall of Fame inductees – West Australian Football Commission. Retrieved 31 May 2012. to Neal and Meryle Winmar. Both his parents were Noongar.Nicky Winmar on protesting racism, battling depression, and going from bush kid to AFL legend by ABC Radio Perth 1 November 2023 His father, Neal Winmar, was born in a tent under a tree. Nicky grew up on an Aboriginal reserve in Western Australia's Wheatbelt, near the town of Pingelly,Ahmed, Nabila (2003). The day the game changed – The Age online. Published 19 April 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2012. in a windowless shack made of corrugated iron with a dirt floor, no running water or sewerage. The reserve had a 6pm curfew. Winmar left school by the age of 15, and worked as a shearer.
Early career Winmar played for the Brookton/Pingelly Football Club in the Upper Great Southern Football League (UGSFL) from an early age. Aged 15, he won a senior best and fairest in an A-grade local competition.
He was subsequently recruited by South Fremantle in the Perth-based WAFL, after the club's coach at the time, Mal Brown, saw Winmar playing for Brookton/Pingelly.Toohey, Paul (2010). Nicky Winmar, a legend in his homeland – Herald Sun online. Published 29 June 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2012. He made his senior debut for South Fremantle in round nine of the 1983 season, aged 17, and played a total of 13 games in his debut season. In the beginning, he was used across the wings and half-forward flanks, but was later played as a rover, although he remained a regular goal-kicker.Hall of Fame Inductee: Neil Elvis (Nicky) Winmar – NAB WA Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 May 2013. In total, Winmar played 58 games for South Fremantle from 1983 to 1986 and kicked 98 goals.
VFL/AFL career Winmar became known as "Cuz", as it was his habit to address everyone by this word.Darcy, Luke (2010). Winmar encapsulates indigenous spirit – Australian Football League. Published 21 May 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
St Kilda Winmar transferred to the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) for the 1987 season, making his debut for the club in Round 1 against at Moorabbin Oval.Nicky Winmar – AFL Tables. Retrieved 31 May 2012. Having played 20 games in his debut season and kicking 37 goals, Winmar finished second in the club's best and fairest count behind Tony Lockett (who went on to win the Brownlow) and also polled 10 votes in the Brownlow Medal.Neil Elvis ('Nicky') Winmar – Nicky Winmar Home Page. Retrieved 31 May 2012. In 1988, he kicked 43 goals from 21 games to be the club's leading goalkicker and again finished runner-up in the best and fairest count, this time to Danny Frawley. After an outstanding season in 1989, Winmar won St Kilda's best and fairest award and was also named in the VFL's Team of the Year on a half-forward flank. He also finished equal third in the 1989 Brownlow Medal, polling 16 votes from his 22 games.1989 Brownlow Medal – AFL Tables. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
After a match against in Round 19 of the 1990 season, Winmar was suspended for 10 matches for kicking and eye-gouging Dermott Brereton.Historical tribunal record – Australian Football League. Retrieved 20 May 2012. Brereton later apologised to Winmar for racially abusing him during the game.Brereton, Dermott (1998). Goodbye Nicky, I'm sorry for what I did. Published 18 August 1998. Retrieved 31 May 2012. He returned to football in round seven of the 1991 season, recording 33 disposals and one goal against Adelaide at Moorabbin. Winmar's performances throughout the rest of the season led to him being named in the inaugural AFL All-Australian team. Winmar played a further 23 games in the 1992 season, including the club's semi-final loss to . At the conclusion of the season, Winmar was named the winner of the Mark of the Year competition, for a spectacular mark taken at Subiaco Oval against .Neil Elvis 'Nicky' Winmar – St Kilda Football Club. Retrieved 31 May 2012. In round four of the 1993 season, Indigenous players Winmar and Gilbert McAdam were racially abused by Collingwood supporters, eventually being awarded two and three Brownlow Medal votes in a game St Kilda won by 22 points. The week after the game, Winmar was involved in a dispute with St Kilda over his level of pay, in particular, injury payments, and did not play for the next two weeks.
Playing a total of 17 games in 1994, Winmar missed three weeks late in the season after being suspended for striking. At the end of the season, Winmar was also refused clearance by St Kilda to play in the Aboriginal All-Stars game, held at Marrara Oval in Darwin.Moncrieff, Darren (2008). 1994 vs. Collingwood: The AFL embraces change – Aboriginal Football. Published 28 July 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2012. In 1995, Winmar played in each of St Kilda's 22 games, winning the club's best and fairest award for a second time and also being named in the All-Australian team. In the pre-season competition held prior to the start of the 1996 season, the 1996 Ansett Australia Cup, Winmar played in St Kilda's team which defeated Carlton by 58 points in the grand final held at Waverley Park and was awarded the Michael Tuck Medal as best on ground.AFL 1996 Ansett Cup Grand Final: St Kilda v Carlton – AFL Media Images. Published 23 March 1996. Retrieved 31 May 2012. Having damaged the medial collateral ligament of his knee in the round three game against , Winmar missed nine matches in the early part of the 1996 season before returning in the latter part of the season.Denham, Greg (1996). St Kilda could lose Winmar for season – The Age. Published 14 April 1996. Retrieved from the Fairfax Newsstore, 22 June 2012. Winmar played his 200th game for the club in round 17 of the 1997 season, against the at Waverley Park, becoming the first Indigenous player to reach the milestone in the AFL.AFL Round 17 – Weekly Wrapup. Published 28 July 1997. Retrieved 31 May 2012. He also played in St Kilda's loss to Adelaide in the 1997 Grand Final, having kicked three goals against in the preliminary final the previous week.
Tribunal record Year Charge Penalty 1988 Striking No penalty 1990 Charging No penalty 1990 Kicking, eye-gouging Suspended ten matches 1992 Charging No penalty 1994 Striking Suspended three matches 1994 Striking No penalty 1995 Disputing umpire'sdecision Fined A$1,500
In 1998, in what was to be his last season for St Kilda, Winmar played 23 games and kicked 16 goals. He was heavily criticised during the club's match against Carlton in Round 20 after spending much of the game fighting with opponents, finishing with only eight disposals.Smith, Patrick (1998). Banishment comes after a sin too many. Published 30 September 1998. Retrieved 31 May 2012. Winmar was suspended by the club for the following match but returned to play for the club in the finals series. After the match, Winmar's manager, Peter Jess, was criticised for making comments in an interview with radio station 3AW suggesting that Aboriginal players were unable to cope with the pressures introduced by "white society".Smith, Patrick (1998). Winmar victim of friendly fire. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
Western Bulldogs Winmar was dismissed from St Kilda at the end of the 1998 season after Tim Watson replaced Stan Alves as coach of the club.Saints Axe Winmar : October 1998 – Footystats. Retrieved 31 May 2012. Despite being contracted for another year, the club terminated Winmar's contract as a result of his behaviour and lack of discipline over the previous season.Denham, Greg (1998). St Kilda ends Winmar's career – The Age. Published 30 September 1998. Retrieved from the Fairfax Newsstore, 22 June 2012. He was then selected by the Western Bulldogs with the 30th pick overall in the 1998 National Draft, having been considered a chance to be drafted by Collingwood, North Melbourne or Carlton.Timms, Daryl (1998). "I'm worth a chance" – Herald Sun. Published 28 October 1998. Retrieved 31 May 2012. Winmar played a total of 21 games for the club, kicking 34 goals, before retiring from the Western Bulldogs at the end of the 1999 season, halfway through a two-year contract, citing issues with a commitment to training and injuries.Timms, Darryl (1999). Nicky's Dream Ends – Herald Sun. Published 9 November 1999. Retrieved 31 May 2012. Winmar was named National Aboriginal Sportsman of the Year at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards held in Hobart, Tasmania, sharing the award with rugby league player Cliff Lyons.Condie, Todd (1999). AFL legend retires – Koori Mail. Published 17 November 1999. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
Racial vilification and 'Winmar's stand' During his career, Winmar was subjected to racial abuse by opposition players, staff and fans. The most infamous incident occurred during Round 4 of the 1993 season, when St Kilda played Collingwood at the latter club's home ground of Victoria Park. Members of the Collingwood cheer squad taunted Winmar throughout the match, telling him to "go and sniff some petrol" and "go walkabout where you came from". At the conclusion of the game, which St Kilda won by 22 points with Winmar putting in a best-on-ground performance, he lifted up his jumper and, facing the crowd, pointed to his skin (controversially using his middle finger instead of his index finger to make the gesture). The following day, photographs of 'Winmar's stand', taken from different angles by Wayne Ludbey and John Feder, were published in the Sunday Age under the headline "Winmar: I'm black and proud of it", with the Sunday Herald Sun publishing a similar photograph under the caption "I've got guts"."Nicky Winmar’s stand", National Museum of Australia.