Nicky Winmar’s statue has been removed from out the front of Perth’s Optus Stadium days after the disgraced AFL great was found guilty of assaulting a woman in northern Victoria last year.
Winmar – who played 230 games at St Kilda and 21 for the Western Bulldogs after beginning his football career at South Fremantle in the WAFL – had argued the woman lied about the attack, but a magistrate disagreed and convicted him of three charges.
The 60-year-old was accused of dragging the woman by her hair, pushing her into a wall, spitting and yelling at her, and smashing her head repeatedly against a door at a property in Cohuna in May 2025.
He was convicted of two charges of common law assault and one count of unlawful assault, but acquitted of a fourth charge of intentionally causing injury.
During his trial, Winmar had admitted to slapping the woman’s arm, but denied hitting her, instead claiming she had punched him around the face.
Bendigo magistrate Trieu Huynh found the woman, who cannot be named, to be a credible and honest witness.
A statue of the Aboriginal player’s famous response to racist abuse while playing Collingwood in 1993 was erected outside Optus Stadium in 2019, but crews arrived early on Sunday morning to pull it down in the wake of Winmar’s conviction.
On Friday, after Winmar’s conviction, WA Premier Roger Cook said the statue would be removed.
“Violence against women is never acceptable, and it is important we send a strong message to the community,” he said in a statement.
“Following Nicky Winmar’s conviction, I’m of the firm view that it is no longer appropriate for that statue to be displayed.”
with Cassidy Knowlton and Tara Cosoleto
