Nyoongar champion joins greats of West Australian footballWEST Australians felt aggrieved when St Kilda swooped on emerging South Fremantle star Nicky Winmar before West Coast could prior to the 1987 VFL season.
Gone to the east seemingly forever was a player who in 58 games for the Bulldogs showed he had it all: an exceptional turn of pace, the most polished skills you would have ever seen and a ball magnet who could launch the Burley equivalent of an exocet missile. Whoever it was the Saints had scouting in the west in 1986 was obviously a good judge.
Winmar went on to play 251 VFL/AFL games, became the first Indigenous player to reach 200 games in the AFL, played for WA eight times in State of Origin and, of course, figure prominently in Australian sports history when he lifted his jumper and pointed to his skin after racial taunts from Collingwood fans in 1993.
However, and like many champions of the game, premiership success eluded Winmar at home and in Victoria.
Now, Winmar's feats over a 16-year career in the WAFL, VFL and AFL will be honoured tonight when he is inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame, alongside eight others.
The West Australian Football Commission established its Hall of Fame in 2002 to honour players coaches, umpires, administrators and media representatives who have made significant contributions to football in WA. Since 2002, their have been 108 individuals across four eras inducted into the WA Hall of Fame, 11 of which, including Graham Farmer and Barry Cable, have been elevated to Legend status.
Tonight's function will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The football career of Neil Elvis WinmarPlayer from 1983 to 1999;
Games: 317 -- 58 South Fremantle (1983-1986), 230 St Kilda (1987-1998); 21 Western Bulldogs (1999); 8 WA in State of Origin;
Goals: 425 -- 98 South Fremantle (1983-1986), 283 St Kilda (1987-1998), 34 Western Bulldogs (1999), 10 WA;
First indigenous player to play 200 games;
Indigenous Team of the Century;
AFL All-Australian 1991,1995;
St Kilda Fairest and Best 1989, 1995;
St Kilda leading goalkicker 1988;
AFL Night Series Premiership 1996 (Michael Tuck Medallist).
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Last Modified on 10/03/2009 23:22