AFL to probe allegations of more threats against opponents by Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli
Details of two alleged threats Willie Rioli made to opponents at Geelong and Essendon have been revealed, with one incident described as “horrific” and “serious”.
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The AFL is reconsidering punishing Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli following fresh allegations of threats he had made in previous games.
The league is this morning in high level discussions in a bid to gain clarity on Rioli’s alleged threats and to potentially determine sanctions.
Rioli is understood to be distressed by the situation and is in talks with the Power about his selection and availability for the Showdown on Saturday.
The AFL controversially let Rioli off with a warning but fresh information over the past 24 hours has seen an angry AFL re-open the case.
It means Rioli could be either suspended or fined for his unacceptable language on the field in games against Geelong and Essendon, and off the field over a post-game message to a Western Bulldogs player warning Bailey Dale he would face a hostile reception in Darwin this week.
This masthead can reveal details of two further incidents involving Rioli.
Rioli allegedly threatened a Geelong player - who chose not to take them any further - during a round 9 match last season.
The incident against Geelong played out between the Port forward and Cats’ goal kicker Brad Close late in the third term of the Round 9 game last year.
Rioli had just given away a double 50m penalty when tempers flared and Rioli clashed with several Geelong players including Close.
It is alleged Rioli, who can be seen pointing to his head in the tangle, made a serious and horrific threat to Close’s personal safety in the exchange.
Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron quickly stepped in to remonstrate with Rioli and had to be held back by his teammates.
Port Adelaide utility Jeremy Finlayson then pulls Rioli away from the skirmish, puts his arms around his shoulders, and attempts to focus Rioli back on the game.
This masthead has established that the AFL was “unaware” of the incident, with the league’s executive general manager of football Laura Kane not informed by the Cats that it had occurred.
A second allegation of a threatening on-field comment came out of Essendon’s round 3 clash with Port Adelaide this season, involving Bombers’ defender Archie Roberts.
The pair exchanged heated words throughout the game when Rioli again stepped over the line with his language with Roberts.
The second-year Essendon backman, who had 21 touches in the game, did not formally raise the matter with the club.
Essendon has also not pushed the situation with the AFL in recent days.
Bombers coach Brad Scott sain on Wednesday morning the Bombers had “no issues” with Willie Rioli after it was revealed an on-field threat was made towards an unnamed player in round 4.
Scott said he had “canvassed players” about the incident and would not take the matter further as Port Adelaide and the AFL continue investigations into Rioli’s behaviour.
“It’s not our issue. It’s a Port Adelaide (and) AFL issue as far as I’m concerned,” Scott said on Wednesday morning.
“There are community expectations around player behaviour on and off field, but within those expectations I have a pretty firm belief that what happens on the field should stay on the field, provided it’s within general community expectations.
“Our players feel that whatever was said or done on the field against Port Adelaide should stay on the field and we are not interested in engaging beyond this.”
Scott, who previously served as the AFL’s General Manager of Football, would not be drawn on whether the league had been consistent in handing out penalties this year after initially deciding not to become involved the Rioli situation on Monday.
“I think it’s been documented in terms of the facts as they are and I think people can draw their own conclusions as to whether they’re consistent or inconsistent,” Scott said.
The concerning on-field language from Rioli is not a new topic for Port Adelaide which has been transparent with the league about some of the goal kicker’s issues.
The Power have been in continual talks with the league in recent days about Rioli’s conduct and his wellbeing.
Port Adelaide has been clear to challenge Rioli’s behavior, while also supporting his personal needs throughout the saga which the Herald Sun revealed on Monday.
Port Adelaide chairman David Koch said the club was “incredibly angry” with Rioli over his behaviour.
“We’ve spoken to Willie about it … he is contrite and sent a message to the player involved but you can’t link onfield and off field comments, otherwise it will lead to places where people don’t want to go,” Koch said on 5AA.
But he said it was a complex situation, insisting Rioli and the club’s indigenous players received a stream of racial abuse, especially on social media, off the field.
“I think you have to look at the bigger picture as well,” Koch said. “You have absolutely no idea of what they go through.
“Off field … the threats we receive at the club against our indigenous players would just horrify you. We see a responsibility to protect them in that situation as well.
“Off field and in social media is totally different and that’s why we are really angry with Willie and what he did. And there is absolutely no excuse (for) that.”
Rioli’s spot in the team in the Showdown against Adelaide on Saturday night is in strong doubt as the league weighs up its next steps.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is due to speak to the media late on Wednesday afternoon with no clarity around whether Rioli would be available for selection in this weekend’s Showdown against Adelaide, which now seems unlikely regardless of the AFL’s findings.
Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said on SEN he was concerned about “double jeopardy”, but stressed the AFL could have looked deeper into the matter on Monday.
“There are different layers of sanction that you can place … there is obviously a slap on the wrist … there is conduct unbecoming and a fine, and there is conduct unbecoming and a suspension,” Buckley said.
“It was definitely on the light end.
“Could the AFL have been stronger? I guarantee now they wish they were stronger now that more (allegations) have come (forward).”
Adelaide legend Mark Bickley said it was hard to see how Rioli could play in the Showdown this weekend now that a “pattern of behaviour” had been established.
“We’re talking now (about) three different, separate occasions where this has taken place,” Bickley said on SEN SA on Wednesday.
“So I think in light of this information…this has to be revisited. Whether it’s the Port Adelaide footy club, whether it’s Willie, whether it’s the AFL, I’m just not sure him playing this weekend is the best thing for anyone right now.
“Often the Showdowns are supercharged, in terms of emotions. So I’m just not sure about that.
“We’ve seen the last couple of weeks he’s been playing on the edge anyway. Is this high emotional state a great thing for him to play at his best? I’m just not sure.
“I’d be surprised if it just stopped here and nothing else was said and Willie plays this weekend.”
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