AFL 2021: Richmond coach Damien Hardwick backs Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton over club brawl

Richmond says it has no reason to doubt Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli’s version of events as the AFL investigates their nightclub brawl.

Richmond training. Daniel Rioli arrives to training with a black eye. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.

Richmond says it backs the version of events of injured Tigers Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli as Damien Hardwick prepares to finish a turbulent week with victory over Greater Western Sydney.

Hardwick said Rioli would not be distracted by the nightclub stoush that saw Rioli punched after responding to offensive comments made against his girlfriend at Club YoYo.

Reports have emerged that the pair attempted to regain entry to the nightclub for up to 30 minutes, with Rioli saying repeatedly he wanted to “kill” the patron in an aggressive manner.

The league investigation, revealed by the Herald Sun, is likely to see the integrity team reviewing any available CCTV footage of the fight.

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But Richmond president Peggy O’Neal said the players were “targeted” and backed their version of events.

“We don’t lock our players up. No clubs do. So it’s just one of those unfortunate circumstances that illustrates high-profile sportsmen and women are often targeted by people who want to take them down a peg or two. We will wait and see what the final word is on the investigation but right now we have no reason to believe our players haven’t told us the entire truth.”

Gillon McLachlan on Friday said he would support a player-led decision that saw them staying away from nightclubs through the season but said it was a decision for players and clubs.

O’Neal told ABC Radio she didn’t agree with curfews and said the players’ version of events was confirmed by multiple witnesses spoken to by the Tigers.

Hardwick said he agreed with McLachlan’s stance that players should walk away but said it was not always possible.

Richmond has backed Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton’s actions.

“We don’t condone violence in any way, but there are certain situations where we expect our players to make a stand,” he said.

“When a young lady is being intimidated inappropriately or she felt insecure, we expect our players to stand in. And Daniel as far as we are concerned did the right thing.

“Did we want the violence to be part of that, absolutely not, but Gill is on the same page, we need players to ensure they are treated respectfully.”

Richmond will blood wing-forward Hugo Ralphsmith, the No. 46 selection in the 2019 national draft, with Dylan Grimes also returning from concussion.

But Hardwick admitted the club was down to its third-string midfield given an “obliterated” midfield and will play a GWS team that has its “orange tsunami” style of handball game back.

“ (Ralphsmith) is exciting. He covers the ground well, he’s a great kick of the ball, he finds the ball well and we are really excited about what he is going to bring to the table.

“We had our first-tier midfield out and now probably our second-tier midfield out but it’s an opportunity for some of those other players who haven’t got regular midfield time to thrive.”

Hardwick said Maurice Rioli jr’s training form was so strong he almost found a spot for him but admits the father-son needs to build endurance before he is truly ready to debut.

He said the club’s issues against Geelong were easy to identify with the Tigers losing contested ball by 35, which included a minus 34 differential in the second half.

“If you don’t get your hands on the ball you defend and you are always going to get beaten up on the scoreboard.

“Compared to last year, the orange tsunami is back, that handball game. When they are their very best they use it by hands. They are (ranked) AFL4 for metres gained by handball, they have rediscovered their DNA from when they were really, really good.”

GILL: WHY TIGERS SHOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM FIGHT

Chris Cavanagh

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said Richmond players needed to “to walk away” from the nightclub fight that left Daniel Rioli with a cut face and Shai Bolton with a broken hand.

The Tigers have said they will not punish the pair for Saturday night’s incident at club YoYo in the city, but the AFL integrity department is continuing to probe the fracas.

It was alleged that another man unknown to the players abused and touched Rioli’s girlfriend, leading to the incident.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said on Monday that “anyone” in that situation would “stand up for their partner and their mates”.

However, McLachlan believed the players should have walked away.

“My view is I respect Damien’s view … but it’s different,” McLachlan said on Thursday.

“I don’t condone violence and they should be walking away.

Daniel Rioli faces the media as he arrives at training. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“It’s difficult at times.

“I know that provocation exists and circumstances are always relevant, but my general position is that people need to walk away and be above that.

“Everyone in the community should be walking away and de-escalating issues.

“That’s my position here.”

McLachlan declined to comment on how Richmond had handled the situation until the league’s integrity department wraps up its investigation.

“I think it’s appropriate that I wait,” he said.

“The team haven’t finished, the integrity team. They are doing what they do and they haven’t finished that.”

Rioli fronted up to Tigers training on Thursday morning sporting the black eye he copped during the brawl.

Wearing a black New York Yankees cap and blue sweater, Rioli was met at Punt Road by waiting TV crews.

Rioli sporting a black eye. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The Tigers star had a bandage on the wound. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The Tigers take on GWS at Marvel Stadium this weekend.

Earlier in the week, AFL Players’ Association president and Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield said players by and large had a good relationship with the public, however there was a small element who wanted to cause trouble.

“The challenges are, especially when you go out and you are letting your hair down after a stressful week, is that you are dealing with dickheads that pull out their phones at a nightclub and are just trying to film something to put on social media,” Dangerfield said on SEN.

Originally published as AFL 2021: Richmond coach Damien Hardwick backs Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton over club brawl