Nicky Winmar dumped from Australian Football Hall of Fame after DV offences
Disgraced St Kilda champion Nicky Winmar has been kicked out of the Australian Football Hall of Fame after being found guilty of domestic violence offences.
Winmar was convicted earlier this month of dragging a woman by her hair and repeatedly slamming her head against a door.
The AFL Commission may exclude from the Hall of Fame any individual found guilty of acts deemed to bring the AFL, its member or Australian Football into disrepute.
AFL Commission Chairman Craig Drummond said “violence against women has no place”.
“The Australian Football Hall of Fame exists to recognize the highest achievements in our game and to be inducted into it is one of the greatest honors Australian football can bestow,” he said.
“The commission has a responsibility to protect the integrity and reputation of this honor.
“Violence against women has no place. Not in our community, not in our game, not in the values that the Australian Football Hall of Fame strives to uphold.”
“The Commission recognizes Nicky Winmar’s significant contribution to Australian Football and his place in our history. However, the recent findings against him make his place in the Australian Football Hall of Fame inappropriate.”
Winmar’s club, St Kilda, who played 231 of 251 AFL matches, decided to suspend Winmar from the Hall of Fame pending “the formal conclusion of the full legal process, including the completion of any appeals”.
“The Board of St Kilda Football Club has today decided to suspend Nicky Winmar from the club’s Hall of Fame,” the club said in a statement.
“This decision comes after Winmar was found guilty of three counts of unlawful and common assault in the Bendigo Magistrates Court earlier this month.
“The decision regarding Winmar’s continued place in the Hall of Fame will be made following the formal conclusion of the entire legal process, including the completion of any appeals.
“Violence against women has no place in our society. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this situation.”
Following the guilty verdict, the AFL star’s statue was removed from Optus Stadium.
