Winmar could join racism class action against AFL

Former AFL star Nicky Winmar has, according to lawyers, joined a class action against the AFL, which is being sued by Indigenous players who suffered racist abuse on the field.

Michel Margalit, the lawyer managing the class action, has told media Winmar was a member in the suit and was willing to become a co-plaintiff in the case.

“He really stands to fight to eradicate racial vilification in the game,” Ms Margalit said.

“Mr Winmar suffered prolonged racial vilification in the workplace and this certainly culminated in that famous moment when he was photographed in 1993.”

The legal action was originally brought by Phil and James Krakouer.

It is believed to include an unspecified number of Indigenous players.

Lawyers representing the AFL have asked the class action be dismissed.

But Justice Andrew Keogh granted the plaintiffs a further two months to build their case.

Phil Krakouer has alleged he had been attacked, spat on and racially insulted on the field during his career.

A famous 1993 photo of Winmar, lifting his jumper and pointing to his skin while being racially abused by Collingwood fans, was used by the media extensively.

who played more than 200 games for St Kilda, was splashed across the newspapers the day after the Saints defeated the Magpies at Victoria Park.

“I just wanted to show them the colour of my skin and who I was,” Winmar told the ABC in 2024.