One of the most famous guernseys in Australian Rules Football (AFL) has been passed in at auction after failing to reach its reserve.
On the eve of the AFL's Indigenous round, the Saint Kilda jumper worn by Nicky Winmar 19 years ago when he famously raised it to show his black skin, was put under the hammer in Melbourne on Monday.
Winmar's gesture was a turning point in the AFL and a catalyst for the nation-wide campaign to stamp out racism in sport.
But at the Sotheby's auction, the No. 7 jumper failed to attract the reserve price.
The auction began with an opening bid of $80,000.
Within minutes it reached $95,000.
But that was not enough.
The reserve was set at $100,000, and there were expectations it could have sold for more.
Sotheby's is now negotiating with potential buyers.
David Hansen of Sotheby's Australia said the No. 7 jumper had great significance.
"This is an item that is not only important in terms of sports history, it's important in terms of race history and important in terms of national and social history," he said.
Tags: community-and-society, race-relations, australian-football-league, vic First posted May 14, 2012 18:45:21
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