AFL removes Nicky Winmar from Hall of Fame after conviction

The Australian Football League has removed former St Kilda star Nicky Winmar from its Hall of Fame following his conviction for assaulting a woman, a decision the football legend has criticized as hypocritical. The AFL Commission revoked Winmar's membership on July 15, 2026, after he was found guilty earlier that month on two counts of common assault and one count of unlawful assault in the Bendigo Magistrates Court.

The charges stemmed from an incident in May 2025 in northern Victoria, where Winmar was convicted of grabbing a woman by the arm, dragging her by the hair, and hitting her head against a door. He was acquitted on a separate charge of intentionally causing injury. Winmar's bail was extended until a presentencing hearing scheduled for August 2026.

In a statement, AFL Commission chairman Craig Drummond said the Hall of Fame exists to recognize the highest achievements in the game and that the commission has a responsibility to protect its integrity. The statement acknowledged Winmar's significant contribution to Australian football but concluded the recent findings rendered his place in the Hall inappropriate. "Violence against women has no place. Not in our community,...