WA to remove Nicky Winmar statue after AFL great found guilty of assaulting woman
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has ordered a bronze statue of AFL great Nicky Winmar be removed after the former St Kilda legend was found guilty of assaulting a woman.
Winmar was on Friday found guilty of dragging a woman by the hair and smashing her head against a door at Cohuna in northern Victoria on May 14, 2025.
Former St Kilda Saints player and Western Australian-born Noongar man Nicky Winmar poses for a photograph in front of his statue at Optus Stadium in Perth, Saturday, July 6, 2019. nna\sswain
The magistrate convicted Winmar of two charges of common law assault and one count of unlawful assault, but threw out a fourth charge of intentionally causing injury.
Following the magistrate’s verdict, the WA government announced it had ordered a statue of the Western Australian-born Noongar man, which stands outside Perth’s Optus Stadium, be removed.
“Violence against women is never acceptable, and it is important we send a strong message to the community,” Cook said.
Nicky Winmar outside court in Bendigo after he was found guilty of assaulting a woman. 9News
“Following Nicky Winmar’s conviction, I’m of the firm view that it is no longer appropriate for that statue to be displayed.”
The statue depicts Winmar’s famed stand against racism during a 1993 game against Collingwood, when the St Kilda player lifted his jumper and proudly pointed at his skin. It was erected at Optus Stadium in 2019.
Winmar will face a pre-sentence hearing for his assault charges at a later date.
He is also co-leading a landmark racism class action against the AFL in the Victorian Supreme Court.
National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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