AFL icon Nicky Winmar is set to be front and centre for Sunday’s Collingwood-St Kilda clash at Adelaide Oval 30 years on from his famous racism stance.
The former St Kilda star lifted his jumper and pointed at his skin after copping a torrent of racial abuse from fans at Victoria Park back on April 17, 1993.
And now on the 30th anniversary, the two clubs are reuniting with Winmar during Gather Rounds celebrations.
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“The two clubs have come together. It was a big moment in our game and they’ve come up with something a bit special,” AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan told 7NEWS.
“It’ll be a nice surprise for Sunday and, I think, a fitting tribute to Nicky and Nicky’s actions.”
It’s believed Winmar will travel at Adelaide Oval on Sunday with his immediate family and toss the coin.
Players from both sides will then stand side-by-side in a pre-game anti-racism stance.
It comes after a wave of racial abuse was reported by AFL players this month, including Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Izak Rankine and Nathan Wilson.
An emotional Ugle-Hagan post match | 01:10
Ugle-Hagan even won Winmar’s respect when he emulated the Saint’s famous stance after copping racial abuse earlier this season.
“I’m proud of Jamarra for standing up for himself,” Winmar said.
“It’s up to the new generations to reinforce the stance I made back in 1993.
“I’m still here, still involved with the issue, but it’s been 30 years now, it’s like a big relay race, time to pass on the baton.”
Saints CEO Simon Lethlean told the Herald Sun the club was looking forward to acknowledging the bravery shown by Winmar.
“It won’t be over the top but it will be a good mark of respect from both clubs who played 30 years ago and it is what Nicky is comfortable with,” he said.
“We wanted to be respectful and recognise Nicky and support him.”
Fox Footy’s Eddie Betts, a passionate advocate to stamp out racism in the game, previously spoke about the hurt Winmar continues to feel when his iconic stance is brought up.
“The power of racism is that when Nicky speaks about his stance that he did, that every time he sees that picture it takes him back to that exact moment when the words were getting sprayed to him, not the stance that he did,” Betts revealed on AFL 360.
Bevo lauds Jamarra’s Winmar moment! | 13:21
“To see that picture, it takes him back to that moment and hear those words being said to him … that’s the power of racism.
Photographer Wayne Ludbey – who took the famous Winmar photo in 1993 – said he believed the Saints’ star was owed an apology.
“I don’t think anyone’s ever apologised to him,” he told 7NEWS.
“I think it’s really important Nicky gets as much love as he can; I think it’s very significant that we’re 30 years later and we’re still listening to his voice.”
