Three decades ago AFL star Nicky Winmar made an iconic stand against racism in football, now an AFLW champion has made a similar stand against body shaming.
Essendon star Madison Prespakis won the league’s Rising Star award in her debut season in 2019 and has gone on to win four club best and fairest awards, was named the AFL’s best player in 2020 and has been named an All Australian three times.
But she has also been the constant target of online abuse, leading her to emulate AFL star Nicky Winmar and make a stand on the weekend.
Winmar made a significant stand against racism in the AFL on April 17, 1993, during a match between St Kilda and Collingwood at Victoria Park.
After enduring racial abuse from the crowd, the St Kilda star lifted his jersey and pointed to his skin, declaring pride in his Indigenous heritage.
This moment became an iconic symbol in the fight against racism in Australian sports.
On the weekend, Prespakis kicked a goal against the Gold Coast Suns to give her side the lead – then performed the same action as Winmar.
She roared at her teammates and opposition, lifting her jersey and pointing to her skin, making her stand against a barrage of horrific online comments slamming her for her weight and body shape.
Essendon star Madison Prespakis pointed to her skin to fight back against body shamers
Her moment emulated the historic match where Nicky Winmar stood up against racism
The public comments against the Essendon star have been horrific.
‘Maddy Prespakis could do with a stint at the fat farm I reckon,’ one troll posted.
‘For an elite footballer who’s been in the system many years it’s embarrassing for AFLW that she presents so poorly,’ another troll posted about Prespakis.
‘She can play, but she must have a poor diet or one that isn’t elite standards.’
Not content with flaming Prespakis online, others have attacked her directly through her social media inbox.
The Essendon star has previously fought back, blowing a kiss to a heckler in an AFL match and naming and shaming the trolls invading her DMs.
‘Words hurt. I hope that you feel so tough and proud of yourself sitting on the couch behind your keyboard,’ she posted.
Prespakis has been targeted by trolls who have attacked her through social media
The trolls have been slammed for their cowardly attacks on the three-time All Australian’s weight
Prespakis made the Nicky Winmar-like stand after messages posted online like this
Prespakis had made a public statement before the match against the Suns as well, calling out a cruel message sent to her inbox during the week.
‘To be honest, I feel very sad right now, for myself I have battled with body image and learning to love my body from a young age until now,’ she wrote.
‘Playing football is the game I love but body confidence hasn’t always made it easy with the view I have on myself, and that’s why I’ve worked so hard to be able to look in the mirror and love what my body looks like.
‘Yesterday’s horrible message has brought back A LOT of feelings I’ve worked hard to overcome over the years but with the best people around me right now I know I’ll continue to have the love from so many beautiful people in my life.’
It has been a long-running battle for the AFLW star and has led her to doubt all of her achievements.
‘While I’ve achieved some great things I still don’t think I’m good enough,’ she said.
But she has received plenty of support from champions of the game.
‘Oh, Mads, you are good enough. That is as raw, as open and as honest as you’ll get,’ Adelaide Crows premiership player Abbey Holmes said.
Prespakis has become the face for the fight against body shaming in the AFL
The Bombers star has achieved almost everything there is to achieve in the sport
All Australian Kate McCarthy said Prespakis’ stand sent an important message to the AFLW.
‘Mads, you’re absolutely good enough and we love you in our game. We love everything you offer us and you’re one of the best players in the competition to start with, that’s full stop, no matter what anyone else has to say about anything,’ the former Brisbane Lions player said.
‘The thing that I love most about AFLW actually, and it’s really unique coming from other sports, is everyone has a different shape and size on an AFLW field, and we need everyone, the way that they look, because you’ve got speedy wingers, in-and-under midfielders, and you’ve got key position players.
‘For women to be different shapes and sizes we need to look different to start with. And the other thing that really gets me from this is women aren’t like men and they’re not like male athletes, they’re not like AFL players where essentially you’ve got carbon copies of each other that are just a little bit taller or a little bit shorter.
‘We have to look different to be able to put on weight, to put on size, to put on strength. It doesn’t come easy for some of us and it doesn’t come easy the other way for others. The unique ability about women is to put on size you need to put on weight. Our bodies are incredible.
‘Mads, what you’ve been able to do by being so raw and open is just incredible and I think it’s nothing but positive that can come out of this. We’re all absolutely behind you.’