An article from 2014 with Comments from Richo who played on Nicky that day.
Is Richo the first Collingwood player to confirm he also heard the comments from the crowd?
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ ... a228b85818
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson relives the day Nicky Winmar changed football forever
ALAN Richardson could hear the torrent of abuse that flowed over the Victoria Park boundary line on the day that changed football.
Jon Ralph, Herald Sun
May 29, 2014 9:38pm
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson played on Nicky Winmar in the famous game against Collingwood when the latter lifted his jumper at Victoria Park.
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson played on Nicky Winmar in the famous game against Collingwood when the latter lifted his jumper at Victoria Park.
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ALAN Richardson could hear the torrent of abuse that flowed over the Victoria Park boundary line on the day that changed football.
He didn’t like it, but this was an era when eliminating crowd-based racism was still far down the list of AFL priorities.
He knew his indigenous opponent heard it too, from the furious glances and muttering under his breath.
On Friday night, Richardson will coach St Kilda in its Nicky Winmar tribute game against Collingwood, celebrating the St Kilda great’s legacy as part of Indigenous Round.
Today for the first time in two decades he has revealed his role in that game, as the Collingwood opponent who played on Winmar before his famous salute.
“After quarter time I was playing on Nicky, and it was pretty clear he was getting frustrated and disappointed with what was coming over the fence,’’ Richardson told the Herald Sun on Thursday.
Nicky Winmar lifts his jumper and points to the colour of his skin to the Collingwood supporters at Victoria Park. He had been racially abused by the Collingwood crowd for being an aboriginal. Picture: John Feder
“I knew he was getting frustrated because while he wasn’t yelling back at the crowd, he was muttering in disbelief to himself.
“Historically there have been some fans at all footy clubs who say things they would later regret and that was the case on the day.”
Gilbert McAdam was best-afield with five goals and Winmar was not far behind, with the pair spurred by McAdam’s pre-game demand: “Brother, we don’t have to put up with this (abuse). Today we will kill them.’’
“It clearly inspired both he and Gilbert (McAdam) into action because they were terrific performers on the day,’’ Richardson said.
“It had an impact and disappointed them, hence Nicky’s display late in the game with the jumper and pointing to the colour of the skin.”
Winmar’s salute was all but ignored on the day, but would grow in resonance until the formulation of the 1995 racial vilification policy.
Richardson was not immediately aware of the salute but will never forget that day.
Even if he tried he still has an official reminder of a below-par performance that in truth added to the mystique of the afternoon.
“I have still got the game report from Leigh Matthews at home that basically said, “We were disappointed in your performance”,’’ says Richardson.
“In terms of my role in trying to quell Nicky I clearly failed to do it, but he was a pretty special player and Gilbert was the same. When they were on, they were incredibly hard to stop because of how dynamic they were.
“With that extra motivation, they wanted to prove how good they were as footballers and people.”
St Kilda has just one indigenous footballer — Terry Milera — but an enormous heritage that includes including Winmar, McAdam, Jim Krakouer, Dale Kickett, Phil Narkle and Bob Jones.
Winmar will not be at the game tonight, with the AFL and St Kilda perhaps a little disappointed but not surprised.
He has battled health issues after a heart attack, and is always reluctant to head west from Esperance, only withdrawing from this latest trip on Wednesday.
He told the Herald Sun last year he was thrilled that the game would be played in his honour.
“It’s great we can play this game against the Magpies. I have been over (to the indigenous round) a few times and have been to the Richmond-Essendon game for Michael Long, and I am really looking forward to this game with Collingwood. It will be great to get there.”
From his nearly 30 years in football Richardson has been blessed by his interaction with many of the indigenous stars of the game, although his introduction to their many talents was sudden.
“I started my career at North Melbourne and I was partnered by Jimmy Krakouer for the whole pre-season and he was just a fantastic player. He did have an aggressive streak in him, and it was an interesting period in a young person’s footy life, but there is no doubt some of the best players ever to play at indigenous players.
“It’s a great opportunity for us as a club to play this game, obviously with Nicky’s involvement and the significance of that day at Victoria Park. It has been felt by the whole industry in many ways, so for us and Terry Milera to have the chance to play is really important.”