By Nick Place and Gary Linnell
First published in The Age on April 18, 1993
Winmar: I’m black and proud of it
For St Kilda’s Nicky Winmar, the moment of triumph over Collingwood yesterday meant the chance to confront those in the crowd who had hurled racist taunts.
St Kilda player Nicky Winmar points to his skin in response to a racist taunt from the crowd.Credit: Wayne Ludbey
After his fourth consecutive vote-winning performance, Winmar turned toward Collingwood supporters, pointed to his bared chest and declared: “I’m black — and I’m proud to be black” .
Although many Aboriginal players tend to shrug off the racist abuse that appears to have become a feature of the game, Winmar’s defiant gesture suggests a change in attitude that, for him at least, enough is enough.
As the siren signalled St Kilda’s first win over the Magpies since 1976, Winmar stood in the forward pocket closest to the Magpie cheer squad, raised both arms and turned a full 360 degrees.
The 27-year-old then faced the Collingwood cheer squad and repeatedly raised and lowered his arms before lifting his guernsey to reveal his stomach and chest.
Earlier, Winmar was believed to have been on the receiving end of racial abuse from the crowd at the Collingwood cheer squad’s end of Victoria Park when he tangled with Magpie rover Tony Francis.
Nicky Winmar during the game against Collingwoof.Credit: Wayne Ludbey
‘Sunday Age’ photographer Wayne Ludbey was among those close enough to hear his proud post-match declaration.
As the Magpie fans howled, Winmar blew them kisses before jogging to the centre of the oval to embrace another Aborigine, Gilbert McAdam, who was also among the Saints’ best players.
St Kilda gathered to enjoy their first triumphant walk from Victoria Park in almost two decades, before leaving the oval in a huddle.
Predictably, Winmar was last off the field. He lagged behind his teammates to blow some final kisses to the Collingwood supporters. Witnesses said some responded by spitting toward Winmar as he ran up the race.
Winmar said after the match that he had seriously considered leaving St Kilda for the West Coast Eagles at the end of last year.
Nicky Winmar (right) unveils his statue in Perth.Credit: Marta Pascual Juanola
During the 1992 finals series, Winmar said St Kilda officials had failed to drive him to hospital after he broke a collarbone. St Kilda repeatedly denied the allegation, but Winmar was clearly disenchanted.
In the end, he said he could not imagine playing against the Saints, and decided to stay.
First published in The Age on April 19, 1993
GARRY LINNELL – Comment
Time for racism to be on report
Just another day at the footy. As St Kilda’s players walk up the race at Victoria Park, about six Collingwood supporters gargle mouthfuls of soft drink and then spray it all over the visiting players.
Near the entrance to the race, another man, presumably still frustrated over his failure to become a brain surgeon, exposes his penis.
Out in the carpark, half a dozen neanderthals, burly blokes with tattoos and bellies filled with beer, stand around a car urinating on its door handles.
Aaaah, footy. A pleasant autumn afternoon. A hazy sky. A pie and sauce. A chance to climb into the gutter.
Changing attitudes is a tough ask. Realistically, no one can expect that minority of brain-damaged spectator found in the outer at each game to change, particularly those mentioned above who were seen in all their glory on Saturday. Evolution will hopefully weed them out.
But somewhere, and sometime, a stand needs to be made. And, if football wants to improve its image, it can start by clamping down on racist remarks on the field.
St Kilda’s Nicky Winmar appears to be the latest in a long line of Aboriginal players on the receiving end of racial taunts.
Two weeks ago. Essendon president David Shaw criticised what he saw as an increase in racial insults.
On Saturday, Winmar, apparently copping a bagging from a handful of moronic spectators, refused to ignore them, proudly showing off the colour of his skin.
His response was an unusual one: the culture of football usually encourages a player to turn the other cheek. Winmar, rightly, was defiant.
Football, as with many other sports, subtly condones racism, just as it subtly condones violence. Players who tackle or hit an opponent hard enough to knock him unconscious are revered. The game’s lore is littered with tough men, blokes who dished it out and copped it, too.
It’s all part of the game, you see. Do anything to gain the advantage over an opponent. Isn’t calling a footballer a black bastard the same as referring to an umpire as a white maggot? Just part of the game, mate.
Unfortunately, it isn’t. We pride ourselves on living in a supposedly enlightened society, one where most people strive for equality. Yet football remains curiously apart.
Nothing can be done about stopping the offensive jibes and abuse hurled at Aboriginal players from over the fence.
But something can be done on the field. Sure, it might sound a little strange at first. But why not discipline footballers who think they can gain an advantage over an opponent simply by mocking the colour of his skin?
Here’s a task for the newly revamped AFL Commission: make it a reportable offence for a player to racially abuse an opponent. Be daring, innovative even. Change the abusive language charge to include racist comments.
Let’s see some of these players called before the tribunal and asked to publicly justify their use of racial taunts.
Perhaps by changing a problem on the field, inroads can be made into solving the many problems off it.
