Former AFL star Nicky Winmar, 60, pleads not guilty to assault and choking charges in Melbourne court.

Former AFL star Nicky Winmar, 60, appeared remotely in Melbourne Magistrates Court on January 20, 2026, facing two counts of assault and intentional choking related to an incident in July. Winmar, whose legal name is Neil Winmar, has pleaded not guilty. The case, which involves allegations of physical violence, is ongoing, with no further details disclosed about the incident or the victim. The matter will proceed through the Victorian court system, and no trial date has been set. Winmar, a respected figure in Australian football history and advocate for Indigenous rights, maintains his innocence.