Prosecutors call for jail time for AFL great Nicky Winmar over assault

The future of disgraced AFL great Nicky Winmar hangs in the balance, with prosecutors calling for him to be jailed for assaulting a woman.

Winmar, who was recently removed from the league's Hall of Fame, was last month found guilty of bashing the woman in the town of Cohuna in 2025.

Winmar smashed the woman's head against a door, pulled her hair and twisted her arm during the attack.

She said the assault left her "a shadow of the person I once was".

Bendigo magistrate Trieu Huynh said he had not decided whether to impose a jail term.

Prosecutor Annina Tropea said Winmar had prior convictions for violence and said jail was needed to make him understand that there were consequences for his actions.

"Engaging in that conduct was a conscious and persistent choice," she said.

However, Winmar's barrister, Dermot Dann KC, said his prison should be a punishment of "last resort", and a community corrections order was more appropriate.

A sentencing date has been set for August 28.

Winmar, who sat alone, slumped forward and covered his ears as the victim read out a statement about how the crime affected her life.

The woman said she felt "extreme pain" in her arm, leaving her unable to complete daily duties or simple tasks.

She said the attack also had an "immense impact" on her mental health and that she constantly felt paranoid, scared and frightened.

"The visions and reminders of being overpowered and powerless are so detailed," she said.

"Not being able to stand up for myself — I was so helpless."

Winmar pleaded not guilty during the case; however, the magistrate found the charges guilty beyond reasonable doubt after hearing evidence from the victim and other witnesses.

Mr Dann, for the defence, said his client had a storied AFL career whose most important achievement was standing up to racism, when he famously lifted his jumper and pointed to his skin in a match against Collingwood in 1993.

After Winmar was found guilty, he was stripped of numerous playing accolades and a bronze statue of him outside Perth Stadium was taken down.

"They can erase his statue and they can erase his names from their hall of fames," Mr Dann said.

"What they'll never be able to erase … in the hearts of minds of the many, many people who care about racism and intolerance and injustice, is the memory of his courageous stand that day at Victoria Park."

Winmar endured a difficult upbringing in WA and currently struggled with depression, PTSD and alcohol disorders, Mr Dann said.

"This is a man who's had plenty of highlights but also plenty of lowlights," he said.

"Of course, this proceeding is one of the real lowlights.

"He has undergone significant efforts towards rehabilitation."

Mr Dann said his client suffered numerous concussions in his playing days and investigations were under way to determine whether he had acquired a brain injury or developed CTE.

Winmar's priors include multiple convictions for assault, including an attack on a taxi driver in 2019, the court heard.

Winmar made no comment outside court.