AFL 2023: Junior Rioli sent straight to tribunal as club calls out ‘reprehensible’ racist abuse

Junior Rioli is the latest First Nations player to be targeted by “reprehensible” racist abuse following his bump on Jordan Ridley – and a lengthy suspension looms.

Junior Rioli. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Port Adelaide has called out a “reprehensible” racist post directed at Indigenous small forward Junior Rioli.

Rioli, 27, was the subject of a racist post on Sunday night after the Power’s narrow win over Essendon at Adelaide Oval.

The former West Coast premiership player, who moved to Port Adelaide at the end of last year, was at the centre of the major incident of the game on Sunday.

An attempted bump on Essendon’s Jordan Ridley left the Bomber concussed when Rioli jumped and caught him with his trailing arm.

The loss of Ridley proved to be a hurdle the Bombers could not overcome as the Power came back to record their fifth straight win.

He is facing a minimum three-match suspension for the incident after he was sent straight to the tribunal with it classed as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

On Monday, the Power issued a statement condemning the racist post directed at the small forward.

The club has called out a racist post directed at Junior Rioli. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Racism does not belong in our society, and nor in our national game,” the club said.

“Racist comments like these cause deep distress and harm.

“We will continue to call this reprehensible behaviour out and use our voice to educate our fans and the broader community.

“The club is supporting Junior, his family, and all First Nations people within the club who have been distressed by these racist comments.”

The racist attack was made on the AFL’s Facebook page and has since been taken down.

Earlier this season star Adelaide recruit Izak Rankine revealed that he was the subject of racial vilification via his private messages on Instagram from an anonymous account following the Crows win over Fremantle in Round 4.

It is understood that unlike that one, the one involving Rioli has come from an account that could be identified and could lead to the person getting a lifetime ban from all AFL matches if their identity can be verified.

The league has banned nine footy fans from attending games for life this season, after launching a crackdown on fans racially abusing players from the stands.

The AFL this season began a zero-tolerance approach towards racist fans and has appointed a full-time investigator who will probe reports of racism in both elite and community footy.

Before this season, the penalty for individual fans found responsible for racial vilification was a three-year suspension.

The fan could be hit with a life ban for the abuse of Rioli. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The nine fans banned for life are all men, and range in age from 18 to 72.

Every banned fan has been dobbed in by fellow stadium patrons, either to security guards or police.

Their offences happened at five different venues — four at the MCG, one at Marvel Stadium, two at the SCG (in the same incident), one at the Adelaide Oval and one at UTAS Stadium in Launceston.

If their identify can be verified the league will look to ban the person who racially abused Rioli online under these guidelines.

The league is still looking at ways it can track down those who racially abuse players online after a spate of attacks on Indigenous and First Nations players this season.

Rioli sent to tribunal for hit

— Simeon Thomas-Wilson and Jon Ralph

Port Adelaide small forward Junior Rioli is facing at least three weeks on the sidelines after he was sent straight to the tribunal for his bizarre bump-gone-wrong on Essendon’s Jordan Ridley.

Rioli’s attempted bump on Ridley was labelled as “striking” and classed as careless conduct, high contact and severe impact on Monday by the Match Review Panel.

The incident that has resulted in Rioli being sent straight to the tribunal occurred in the second quarter when he attempted to bump Ridley in a blocking motion but ended up striking him with what appeared to be a trailing arm.

Ridley almost immediately collapsed to the turf and was subbed out of the game, with coach Brad Scott confirming he was concussed after initial fears of a broken jaw.

Jordan Ridley has been subbed out following this incident.#AFLPowerDonspic.twitter.com/giP2EOSzRS

— AFL (@AFL) May 7, 2023

The Rioli-Ridley collision was 50m away from the ball so Rioli would have risked an intentional rough contact charge if he made high contact with a bump.

But instead the Power defender missed Ridley as he jumped off the ground then appeared to accidentally collect him with his elbow or forearm.

It ended up being a turning point of the match with a Ridley-less Essendon unable to contain Port Adelaide, who clocked up its fifth win in a row with a five-point victory.

Under this year’s MRO precedent Rioli was responsible for that contact and the force was likely to be assessed as severe given Ridley was concussed.

At the game’s half-time break on Sunday Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton said Rioli got Ridley in a vulnerable position on the jaw.

“Is it a glancing blow? The arm comes across. It seems pretty innocuous,” he said on Fox Footy.

“He is not playing the ball, he is behind play and he jumps.

“I would say it is probably the wrist laterally across the jaw.

“Fingers crossed for Jordan Ridley that he is OK.”

Jordan Ridley was subbed out with concussion. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Adelaide’s Shane McAdam and Richmond’s Nathan Broad were both handed severe ratings for incidents this year that resulted in concussion tests or left opponents with concussion.

The Crows failed in a bid to have McAdam’s ban thrown out even though GWS’ Jacob Wehr played out the game in Round 1 after his bump.

The Power takes on North Melbourne, Melbourne and Richmond in the next three weeks.

It comes as the Power released a statement condemning racial abuse directed towards Rioli on a social media post on Sunday night following the game.

Rioli, 27, moved to Port Adelaide at the end of last season from West Coast after lodging a trade request that drew the ire of the Eagles.

He has played every game for the Power this year and has kicked 10 goals, including six in his last three matches with Ken Hinkley’s side on a five-match winning run.

Power star Connor Rozee was also fined $4000 for a third offence of making careless contact with an umpire. With an early plea Rozee’s fine can be reduced to $2500.