{"id":813603,"date":"2026-07-21T04:07:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T04:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/813603\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T04:07:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T04:07:22","slug":"stephen-milne-pulled-from-afl-legends-game-over-past-assault-charge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/813603\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Milne pulled from AFL Legends game over past assault charge"},"content":{"rendered":"

St Kilda great Stephen Milne has been pulled from next month\u2019s EJ Whitten Legends Game following backlash to his indecent assault history.<\/p>\n

In 2014, Milne initially faced multiple rape charges which were all later withdrawn, and he ended up pleading guilty to indecently assaulting a 19-year-old woman in 2004.<\/p>\n

He was fined $15,000 and had no conviction recorded. <\/p>\n

Last week it was announced that Milne, 46, would play in the Four\u2019N Twenty Legends Game at Marvel Stadium \u2014 an exhibition game where \u201cpast greats and fan favourites of the game\u201d help raise funds to support prostate cancer.<\/p>\n

After backlash to news of Milne\u2019s participation, the game\u2019s media partner SEN issued a statement on Monday saying Milne had been pulled from the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy mutual agreement, we can confirm that Stephen Milne will not participate in the 2026 Four\u2019N Twenty Legends Game for Prostate Cancer,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Legends Game is an important opportunity to raise funds supporting vital prostate cancer care and research at the Australian Prostate Centre, and all parties agree the focus should remain firmly on that cause and the positive impact it has on the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone who participates in and attends our events, and want the focus of the day to be on football, fundraising and community impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

Milne played his entire 275-game AFL career at St Kilda and kicked 574 goals as one of the best small forwards of his generation, earning All Australian honours twice. <\/p>\n

He played in St Kilda\u2019s three grand final defeats in 2009 and 2010, including the famous drawn game against Collingwood where he nearly scored the matchwinning goal but the Sherrin bounced away from him. <\/p>\n

Milne\u2019s withdrawal comes after another St Kilda great, Indigenous icon Nicky Winmar, had his status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame revoked<\/a> after he was found guilty of domestic violence offences including dragging a woman by her hair and repeatedly slamming her head into a door.<\/p>\n

A statue of Winmar was also taken down from outside Perth\u2019s Optus Stadium. He will be sentenced over three assault charges at a later date.<\/p>\n

Milne was set to join Dustin Martin, Campbell Brown, Dyson Heppell, James Harmes, Daisy Thomas, Jude Bolton, team captain Brendan Fevola and coach Joel Selwood to make up \u201cTeam Victoria\u201d.<\/p>\n

Lance \u2018Buddy\u2019 Franklin will also make his return to football in the Legends Game on Thursday August 27, suiting up for the All Stars, coached by Kane Cornes and captained by Shane Crawford.<\/p>\n

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