Collingwood Football Club has apologised for the racist abuse Indigenous champions Nicky Winmar and Gilbert McAdam suffered at their home ground, and for the racist comments of their former club president.
In round four of the 1993 AFL season Winmar turned to the largely Collingwood-supporting crowd at Victoria Park, lifted his jumper and pointed to his skin in defiance of the racist abuse he had copped throughout the game.
"I'm black and I'm proud," the St Kilda star said that day.
The legacy of his actions have endured in Australia's sporting and social landscape in the decades since.
"Racism is a stain. If recent events demonstrate anything, it's that it will take a lot more to eradicate this," St Kilda Football Club said in a statement on Monday.
"Thirty years on, we each have the choice to be better. Thirty years on, it's up to the next generation to make it happen.
"And thirty years on, Nicky Winmar is still black and still proud."
On Sunday, prior to St Kilda's clash with Collingwood, the Magpies issued an apology to Winmar and acknowledged the pain caused.
"Today, at Collingwood, we do not shy away from ensuring that racism is addressed when we see it or hear it," the apology read.
"The Collingwood Football Club understands that racism is harmful and has no place in our game and apologises to Nicky Winmar and to Gilbert McAdam for the hurt they experienced playing football.
"It takes courage to stand against racism and when First Nations people do so, it is our opportunity – all Australians – to listen, learn and change for the better."
Prior to the match, St Kilda and Collingwood ran through the same banner before Winmar stood in the middle of the ground to toss the coin and was met by both club captains and Indigenous players from either side who took the field soon after.
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The crowd and those at home alike reacted in applause and support to the gesture.
Nicky Winmar, 30 years on from his courageous stand against racism 🙌 pic.twitter.com/g09eAUWiaX
— AFL (@AFL) April 16, 2023
In their statement, Collingwood also apologised for the "appalling" comments made by then-club president Allan McAllister shortly after the incident three decades ago.
McAllister said at the time: "As long as they (Aboriginal players) conduct themselves like white people, well, off the field, everyone will admire and respect … As long as they conduct themselves like human beings, they will be all right. That's the key." His comments were reported in the Herald Sun.
Collingwood said reflecting on the past is an important step towards moving in the right direction, later addressing 2020's Do Better report which examined the culture within the club.
In the years since, former Magpies from diverse backgrounds have been critical of their experiences at the club, categorised as racist.
"In March last year, the Club shared the 12-month review of the work arising from the Do Better Report which noted that Collingwood had made 'significant and genuine progress," the statement said.
"To be clear, we at Collingwood remain on a journey – we believe that real and lasting cultural change takes time, dedication and persistence."
One of the club's comments - "We also believe there is no finishing line when it comes to eliminating racism" - resonated in light of a series of recent events and revelations.
Last week, a number of First Nations players were subjected to racist taunts online, with their respective clubs and the AFL quickly condemning the behaviour.
It followed the Bulldogs' Jamarra Ugle-Hagan being vilified by a fan in the crowd during his round two match.
The next week, the 20-year-old reenacted Winmar's stance after opening the scoring for his side.
Geelong are at the centre of legal proceedings surrounding historic allegations of the sexual abuse of a former Indigenous player in the 1980s, and the results of investigations into explosive allegations of serious misconduct directed towards Hawthorn players during the club's most recent premiership are yet to be released.
On Saturday, parallels were drawn between crowd booing of often-marred second year Port Adelaide star Jason Horne-Francis and the same conduct which saw modern-great Adam Goodes unceremoniously exit football.
"I'd be embarrassed by my performance if I was those people (booing)," Port coach Ken Hinkley said after the game.
"Let the kid play footy. He's nineteen."
The disparities when comparing a quick response from coaches, pundits and footy officials to get behind Horne-Francis to what a man resisting crowd racism and proudly representing his culture endured with questionable action taken has drawn criticism.
Last week, former Blues and Crows champion Eddie Betts said in discussions he has had with Winmar about his stance and the famous image which captured the moment, Betts, who experienced racism during his career, said the memory and legacy left can sit uncomfortably.
"He took a stand but to see that picture, it takes him back to that moment and hears those words being said to him every week," Betts said of Winmar's experience on AFL 360.
"That's the power of racism."
At Victoria Park on Tuesday, 18 April, Nicky Winmar, past and present Indigenous footballers and a host of proud First Nations people will hold a Ngarra Jarra Noun (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung for Healing) Ceremony in acknowledgment of what happened there in 1993.
"Healing Ceremony is an Aboriginal tradition that has been around for tens of thousands of years," co-organiser and Essendon champion Nathan Lovett-Murray said.
"The event at Victoria Park will celebrate Nicky's brave stand and encourage all participants to engage in a deeply personal journey.
"Our plan is to make the 30th anniversary of Nicky's stand the first of many healing ceremonies that will take place over the course of this year."
Tuesday's event runs 6pm-8pm.
