AFL great Nicky Winmar accused of dragging woman by hair; court matter adjourned to November

Nicky Winmar, the former St Kilda and Western Bulldogs footballer, has been accused of grabbing and dragging a woman by the hair and twisting her arm in an alleged incident in May, a court heard Thursday.

The 59-year-old appeared via video link at Kerang Magistrates Court in northern Victoria after being charged over an alleged assault on May 14 in Cohuna, northwest of Echuca. Details of the allegations were not read in court, but charge sheets released to media state that Winmar grabbed and twisted the woman's arm, then grabbed her hair and dragged her, and that police allege he intentionally caused injury.

It is unclear from redacted charge documents whether the allegations relate to a single victim or multiple victims across separate incidents. Winmar is also separately charged in Melbourne over an allegation that he intentionally choked, strangled or suffocated a woman on July 18. He is due to face Melbourne Magistrates Court later in September.

Prosecutor Annina Tropea told Kerang Magistrates Court that police sought an adjournment because additional charges had been recently filed and served and further inquiries by a police informant remained outstanding. Magistrate Sharon McRae granted the adjournment and listed the matter to return to Kerang Magistrates Court in November. Ms McRae said she accepted that Winmar had been engaging with a bail-mandated court integrated services program.

Winmar spoke only briefly in the hearing to indicate he understood the court orders. The charges remain allegations and the defendant has not been found guilty of the offenses.

Winmar finished his Australian Football League career with 230 games for St Kilda and 21 for the Western Bulldogs, becoming the first Aboriginal footballer to reach 200 league games. He remains a prominent figure in the sport for both his on-field achievements and his stand against racism during his career, most notably in 1993 when he lifted his jumper and pointed to his skin in response to racial abuse from spectators.

Earlier this year, in March, Winmar was asked to co-lead a landmark racism class action in the Supreme Court brought by retired Indigenous players, including Phil Krakouer. Court proceedings related to the recent criminal charges will continue in Victoria as the legal process proceeds.