Nicky Winmar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nicky Winmar
Winmar points proudly at his skin in a gesture of defiance at racial abuse in 1993
Personal information
Full name	Neil Elvis Winmar
Nickname(s)	"Cuz"
Date of birth	(1965-09-25) 25 September 1965 (age 59)
Place of birth	Kellerberrin, Western Australia
Original team	Pingelly (UGSFL)
Position(s)	Half-forward flank, wing
Career highlights
St Kilda leading Goalkicker 1988 2x St Kilda Best and Fairest 1989, 1995 VFL Team of the Year 1989 2x All-Australian team 1991, 1995 Mark of the Year 1992 St Kilda Pre-Season Premiership side 1996 Michael Tuck Medal 1996 Aboriginal Sportsperson of the Year 1999 St Kilda Team of the Century (named 2003) St Kilda Hall of Fame (inducted 2003) Indigenous Team of the Century (named 2005) West Australian Football Hall of Fame (inducted 2009) Australian Football Hall of Fame (inducted 2022)

Neil Elvis "Nicky" Winmar (born 25 September 1965) is a famous former Australian rules footballer. He played for the St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL). He also played for in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).

Nicky Winmar is an Indigenous Australian man. He was the first Aboriginal footballer to play 200 games in the AFL. In 2005, he was named in the Indigenous Team of the Century. He is well-known for a powerful moment in 1993. A photograph of him responding to racial abuse became one of the most famous images in Australian sports history.

Winmar grew up in Pingelly, Western Australia. He started his career with South Fremantle. Later, he joined St Kilda in 1987. During his twelve seasons with St Kilda, he won the club's best player award twice. He was also named in the All-Australian team two times.

After leaving St Kilda in 1998, he played one season with the Western Bulldogs. He retired from the AFL in 1999. Winmar represented Western Australia in eight state games. He was named in St Kilda's Team of the Century in 2003. In 2009, he was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Football Start

Neil Elvis Winmar was born on 25 September 1965 in Kellerberrin, Western Australia. His parents, Neal and Meryle Winmar, were both Noongar people. Nicky grew up in a rural area near Pingelly. He left school by age 15 and worked as a shearer.

Winmar began playing football for the Brookton/Pingelly Football Club. He was very talented from a young age. At 15, he won a top award in a local competition.

He then joined South Fremantle in the Perth-based WAFL. He made his first senior game for South Fremantle in 1983 when he was 17. He played 58 games for South Fremantle from 1983 to 1986. He kicked 98 goals during this time.

AFL Career Highlights

Nicky Winmar became known as "Cuz" because he often called everyone by that friendly word.

Playing for St Kilda

Winmar moved to the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) for the 1987 season. He played his first game for St Kilda against Geelong. In his first season, he played 20 games and kicked 37 goals. He finished second in the club's best player award.

In 1988, he kicked 43 goals and was the club's top goalkicker. He was again runner-up for the best player award. In 1989, Winmar had an amazing season. He won St Kilda's best player award and was named in the VFL's Team of the Year.

He returned to football in 1991 after a break. His great play led to him being named in the first ever AFL All-Australian team. In 1992, Winmar won the Mark of the Year award for an amazing catch he made against West Coast.

In 1995, Winmar played in all 22 of St Kilda's games. He won the club's best player award for a second time. He was also named in the All-Australian team again. Before the 1996 season, St Kilda won the Pre-Season Cup. Winmar was named the best player in the grand final game.

In 1997, Winmar played his 200th game for St Kilda. He was the first Indigenous player to reach this milestone in the AFL. He also played in the 1997 AFL Grand Final.

Time with Western Bulldogs

Winmar left St Kilda at the end of the 1998 season. He was then chosen by the Western Bulldogs in the 1998 National Draft. He played 21 games for the Western Bulldogs, kicking 34 goals. He retired from the Western Bulldogs at the end of the 1999 season.

In 1999, Winmar was named National Aboriginal Sportsperson of the Year. He shared this award with rugby league player Cliff Lyons.

Standing Up Against Racism

Nicky Winmar was involved in important moments regarding racial vilification during his career. The most famous one happened in 1993.

In a game for St Kilda against Collingwood in 1993, Winmar faced racist comments from some Collingwood fans. At the end of the game, which St Kilda won, Winmar lifted his jumper. He faced the crowd and proudly pointed to his skin.

The next day, a photo of Winmar's gesture was published in newspapers. The Sunday Age headline read: "Winmar: I'm black and proud of it." This photo, taken by Wayne Ludbey, became very famous.

Winmar later said he didn't enjoy the attention at first. But the incident helped bring more support from the AFL against racism in football. On 16 April 2023, 30 years later, Winmar was honored at a St Kilda–Collingwood game. Collingwood apologized to Winmar and his teammate Gilbert McAdam for the past racial abuse.

The Photo's Impact

Winmar points proudly at his skin in a gesture of defiance at racial abuse in 1993

Statue based on the famous 1993 photo, outside Perth Stadium, erected 2019

Winmar's gesture is seen as a "powerful statement" and an "anti-racist symbol." It is one of the most important images in Australian sports history. Many believe it helped start the movement against racism in Australian football. It has been compared to the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute for its impact.

The event inspired Indigenous singer-songwriter Archie Roach to write the song "Colour of Your Jumper".

A statue based on the famous photograph was unveiled in July 2019. This bronze statue is 2.75-metre (9 ft 0 in) tall and stands outside Perth Stadium.

In March 2023, Western Bulldogs player Jamarra Ugle-Hagan received a racist remark. In his next game, he copied Winmar's gesture. He lifted his shirt and pointed to his skin, showing his pride.

The Famous Jumper

Winmar gave the jumper he wore in the famous photograph to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) in 1998. Later, the jumper was given to the National Museum of Australia. It was shown in an exhibit about Indigenous Australian art.

In 2012, Museum Victoria bought the jumper for $100,000. They planned to display it at the First Peoples exhibition in Melbourne Museum.

Achievements and Recognition

The Nicky Winmar Cup is a football tournament for young Indigenous players. It started in 2009. It is a partnership between the West Australian Football Commission and the Western Australian Department of Sport and Recreation.

Team Awards

• McClelland Trophy (St Kilda): 1997
• Pre-Season Cup (St Kilda): 1996

Individual Awards

• All-Australian: 1991, 1995
• Herald Sun Player of the Year Award: 1995
• Trevor Barker Award (St Kilda F.C. Best & Fairest): 1989, 1995
• St Kilda F.C. Leading Goalkicker: 1988
• Alex Jesaulenko Medal (Mark of the Year Award): 1992
• Michael Tuck Medal: 1996
• Aboriginal Sportsperson of the Year: 1999
• St Kilda F.C. Team of the Century – right wing (named 2003)
• St Kilda F.C. Hall of Fame Inductee: 2003
• West Australian Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 2009
• South Fremantle's Indigenous Team of the Century (named 2009)
• Indigenous Team of the Century – half-forward flank (named 2005)
• AFL Hall of Fame: June 2022

Life After Football

After retiring from the AFL, Winmar played for different local clubs. He played in Victoria and the Northern Territory. He worked in the mining industry and as a shearer.

In September 2012, Winmar had a heart attack and was hospitalized.

His book, My Story: From Bush Kid to AFL Legend, was published in October 2023. He wrote it with Matthew Hardy.

Family Connections

Two of Nicky Winmar's cousins also played for AFL clubs. They are Leroy Jetta and Nicholas Winmar.

Playing Statistics

Winmar's player statistics are shown below: