Former AFL player Nicky Winmar appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after being accused of choking, strangling or suffocating a woman.
The 59-year-old former St Kilda half-forward was charged with two counts of assault and one count of choking, strangling or suffocating a person without lawful excuse.
Court documents allege the incident took place on July 18.
He appeared via video link in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and wore a blue jumper and glasses.
The details of the allegations were not heard during the hearing, while Mr Winmar only spoke to confirm he could see and hear the court.
Mr Winmar’s lawyer, Tessa Theocharous, explained to the court that her client had been on bail for the allegations and the matter had been listed for a bail review.
However, police prosecutors asked the court to strike out an application to revoke his bail.
Former AFL player Nicky Winmar appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after being charged with two counts of assault and one count of count of choking, strangling or suffocating a person without lawful excuse
Mr Winmar enjoyed a distinguished career in the AFL, and was an anti-racism trailblazer. He notably hit back at fans who had racially abused him during a game in 1993 by lifting up his guernsey, pointing to his skin and saying ‘I’m proud to be black.’
Ms Theocharous told the court her client had ‘only fairly recently been placed on’ the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP).
She added that he had an appointment to discuss his CISP arrangements.
‘There is a further appointment today at court, Your Honour, so that a more fulsome plan can be prepared and Mr Winmar can engage with that,’ she told the court.
His bail was extended until he is next due to appear in court on August 28.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon was questioned on the charges during a press conference on Tuesday.
‘I’m not crossing into detail with Nicky, but I think that’s something that’s terrible, if someone is in court facing charges,’ the AFL CEO explained.
Mr Winmar began his playing career with South Fremantle in 1983. He’d later move to join up with St Kilda in 1987 returning 283 goals across 230 appearances. Mr Winmar later moved to play for the Western Bulldogs for one season before retiring in 1999.
He won many accolades during his 16-year career, including two All-Australian jackets in 1991 and 1995, while also was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
During his career, the 59-year-old campaigned heavily against racism.
Back in 1993, Mr Winmar was racially abused during a game against Collingwood by some fans inside the stadium.
In response to the racial slurs, the half-forward lifted his guernsey up and pointed at his skin, hitting back at the abuse directed to him by some members of the Collingwood cheer squad.
He said: ‘I’m black and I’m proud to be black.’ It was one of the most iconic moments in the history of Australian rules football.
