A bronze statue of AFL player Nicky Winmar’s famous stance against racial vilification during a football match is likely be unveiled when St Kilda meet Fremantle in Perth on April 7.

Sports Minister Mick Murray said this week the round three AFL match at Optus Stadium would be the ideal fixture for the unveiling of the statue, which will be erected in Perth.

Camera Icon The Nicky Winmar statue set to be unveiled in Perth on April 7. Credit: Supplied

WA-born Winmar was playing for the Saints when he famously lifted his jumper to show the colour of his skin during a match against Collingwood at Victoria Park in 1993.

“We would love the statue to be unveiled at the first Saints game in Perth,” Mr Murray said. “St Kilda still holds Nicky in very high regard. It would be a momentous occasion, I believe, because what happened was not only about a football match, but a political statement. Nicky, on that day, made a political statement against racism.”

The AFL and the State Government agreed this month the bronze statue of Winmar should be in his home State, after fears it could have been lost to Victoria.

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A Noongar reference group, the Perth City Council and Venues West are involved in picking the site for the statue.

Mr Murray said it would not go to Yagan Square, as suggested by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt, and the Optus Stadium precinct was still the obvious site.

“We are currently trying to identify the site, and then we want to get moving to get the statue here,” Mr Murray said. “We want to put it in an area that’s highly visible. We are starting to shorten the list, firming up where the site should be.

“And we want this decision to be made sooner, rather than later. We want it done.”

Winmar’s on-pitch stand came after he and fellow indigenous player Gilbert McAdam had been subjected to racial abuse from Collingwood fans.