Chris Davies addresses alleged threats from Willie Rioli to opposition players

Port Adelaide footy boss Chris Davies says it is in Willie Rioli’s best interests that he is not stood down from the club as the AFL investigates alleged threats from the forward to opposition players.

Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies says it is in Willie Rioli’s best interests that he is not stood down from the club in the wake of the AFL investigating fresh claims over other threats made to opposition players.

Davies also strongly hit out at the “pile-on” regarding commentary around Rioli in the wake of allegations of threats to players in games surfacing in the aftermath of the AFL clearing him for a threatening message sent to a Western Bulldogs player about Bailey Dale after the Power’s heavy loss to them on Saturday in Ballarat.

“The last 24 hours I think the pile-on has been over the top,” he said.

“That is not to suggest that the issue is not real, but what we are dealing with here the text message after a game and what is said during a game – albeit they are two separate things – I understand in this moment why we are looking at these things as a pattern of behaviour.

“But if we were to sanction every threat of violence on the field I think the AFL is going to have their hands full.”

Davies strongly refuted suggestions that standing down Rioli would be in his best interests, saying the club was determined to support him.

“I don’t believe that sending Willie away from the club is the way to deal with this issue,” he said.

“He has an issue to deal with here but we are not going to kick him out of our club and stand him down for any period of time that would suggest that he can’t be around teammates, people who are supportive and for him to sit at home and keep reading the rubbish that he gets constantly on social media.”

The Power footy boss said while Rioli had made a “pretty significant error” a lot of the commentary around him did not have an understanding of what Rioli has to deal with consistently, such as racist online abuse.

“I think the challenge that has happened over the last 24 hours specifically is a whole host of people across the industry talking about Willie Rioli without having an understanding of the cultural significance to Willie of different things that happen,” he said.

“And I have found that quite confronting over the last little bit seeing a whole heap of people who I think don’t have the necessary depth of understanding what Willie goes through regularly and having their own judgements before understanding maybe some of the things that sit beneath what Willie deals with.

“People should spend some time educating themselves on some of the things that sit behind what Willie deals with.

“That is an ongoing thing that Willie has to deal with and has to deal with better at points in time but that doesn’t dismiss that these things are constantly happening to him.”

Rioli trained at Alberton Oval on Wednesday night. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Rioli trained on Wednesday night and Davies said it was a “fair question” to ask if the Power were concerned about his long-term wellbeing and future in the game because of what had happened to other players in the past but he was just focusing on working through the AFL’s investigation.

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.”