Nicky Winmar removed from Australian Football Hall of Fame after assault conviction

Former St Kilda and AFL star Nicky Winmar was stripped of his Australian Football Hall of Fame membership after a Bendigo Magistrates' Court found him guilty of three counts of unlawful and common assault for attacking a woman in Cohuna, northern Victoria, in May 2025. AFL Commission chair Craig Drummond said the Hall of Fame "exists to recognise the highest achievements in our game" and that the commission "has a responsibility to protect the integrity and reputation of that honour". The AFL invoked a 2023 charter amendment that allows removal of inductees convicted of indictable offences or conduct deemed prejudicial to the sport.

The decision followed the removal of Winmar’s statue from Optus Stadium in Perth, carried out under directions from Western Australian Premier Roger Cook, who said "violence against women is never acceptable". St Kilda also suspended Winmar’s place in the club’s Hall of Fame pending any appeal. The AFL’s action underscores its stance on personal conduct and the reputational standards expected of honoured players.