Thirty years after Nicky Winmar’s famous stand against racism, Collingwood has formally apologised to the St Kilda champion and his teammate Gilbert McAdam for the abuse directed at them.
Winmar revealed this week he is still hurting from the events that occurred at Victoria Park in April 1993, when he and McAdam were subjected to a torrent of racist abuse by Magpies fans.
It led to Winmar’s powerful stance, when he lifted his jumper and pointed to the colour of his skin to declare, “I’m proud to be Black”.
A week after Winmar’s act of pride, Collingwood’s then-president Allan McAllister said he had no issue with Indigenous folk – with an offensive caveat.
“As long as they conduct themselves like white people, well, off the field, everyone will admire and respect … as long as they conduct themselves like human beings, they will be alright,” McAllister said.
Tweet from @CollingwoodFC
Collingwood, St Kilda and the AFL acknowledged the shameful episode before Sunday’s round five contest between the two clubs at Adelaide Oval.
Saints and Magpies players took to the field with Winmar and ran through a joint banner before the former Saints star tossed the coin.
Earlier on Sunday, Collingwood apologised to Winmar and McAdam, and condemned McAllister’s comments.
“The Collingwood Football Club understands that racism is harmful and has no place in our game and apologises to Nicky Winmar and to Gilbert McAdam for the hurt they experienced playing football,” the club said in a statement.
“It takes courage to stand against racism and when First Nations people do so, it is our opportunity – all Australians – to listen, learn and change for the better.
“Collingwood also apologises for the appalling comments made by its most senior official in the days following that game.
“To go back and reflect on where we got things wrong is important to us and we will continue to listen and learn as we progress our club.”
Tweet from @AFL
The Victoria Park episode and McAllister’s comments were documented in the ‘Do Better’ report into Collingwood’s history of racism, released in 2021.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the Magpies “are making a real effort and leading on this issue (racism) now”, adding it was important the league recognised Winmar’s courage.
“The warmth for him out there and the applause was significant,” McLachlan said.
“I know he’s feeling the love and I think that he knows and acknowledges we’re on a journey. There’s lots of steps on the way there.
“We are trying to get better every day as a game and I think that actually acknowledging it today, and having him here and him feeling the love was important.”
A statue of Winmar striking his famous pose now sits outside Perth’s Optus Stadium.
The stance was emulated by Jamarra Ugle-Hagan last month, when the Western Bulldogs young gun responded to racist abuse during and after a game against St Kilda with a five-goal haul against Brisbane.
Like Winmar, Ugle-Hagan lifted his jumper and pointed to his skin in a powerful statement.
However, it hasn’t stopped racist abuse being directed at Indigenous footballers.
Fremantle duo Michael Walters and Nathan Wilson, Brisbane star Charlie Cameron and Adelaide forward Izak Rankine have all been targeted in recent weeks.
