Willie Rioli apologises to Bailey Dale after investigation into threatening message

Willie Rioli has dodged a sanction from the AFL over threatening Bailey Dale after Saturday’s game, with the forward apologising to the Dogs defender.

Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli has escaped punishment from the AFL and apologised to Western Bulldogs’ defender Bailey Dale for warning the defender to be careful leaving his hotel room in Darwin this weekend.

The Herald Sun on Monday revealed Rioli allegedly sent a hostile message to one of Dale’s teammates urging Dale to be careful in the top end ahead of the Dogs’ clash against Gold Coast at TIO Stadium on Saturday night.

In a dramatic postscript to their on-field dust-up in Ballarat on Saturday, it is alleged Rioli said he had ‘lots of friends in Darwin and he (Dale) should be careful leaving his hotel room’.

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But the matter was considered resolved on Monday afternoon after Rioli reached out to Dale to apologise for the threatening message following high-level talks between both clubs and the AFL.

It means Rioli will avoid sanction under the league’s respect and responsibility policy which could have seen Rioli fined or suspended for seriously threatening another AFL player.

It is a lucky escape for the 98-gamer compared to the $20,000 fine issued to Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley for his plane jibe at the Hawks after Port’s thrilling semi-final win last year.

In a statement on Monday night the AFL said it would “take no further action” but “reminded both clubs to ensure communications are respectful”.

Willie Rioli has escaped sanction for his text to Bailey Dale. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images.

Port Adelaide said in a statement it was “aware of a private message sent by Willie Rioli to a Western Bulldogs player following Saturday afternoon’s game between the two clubs”.

“The matter has now been resolved privately after Willie contacted Bailey Dale from the Bulldogs,” Port said.

In a statement on Monday night the AFL said it would “take no further action” but “reminded both clubs to ensure communications are respectful”.

The pair clashed several times on the field in the Bulldogs’ 91-point win at MARS Stadium with Rioli fined $1000 for striking Dale to the face in the third term.

But things escalated in the 24 hours afterwards when Rioli took to social media to send the private message to a mutual friend of theirs at the club.

The Dogs were duty-bound to alert the AFL immediately on Monday morning, prompting an investigation by Port Adelaide into Rioli’s message.

Willie Rioli’s story. Picture: Instagram

Power chiefs were understood to be supportive albeit initially disappointed in Rioli’s conduct only weeks after counselling the goal kicker on his social media use after the win over Hawthorn.

The situation was taken seriously by both clubs and has again put Rioli under an unwanted spotlight ahead of one of the Power’s biggest games of the season against Adelaide in Saturday night’s Showdown at Adelaide Oval.

Rioli, 29, who is from Tiwi Islands, was sidelined for two years for substituting a sports drink for his urine in a game day drugs test in 2019.

While Dale has brushed off the threat from Rioli, Western Bulldogs’ coach Luke Beveridge is expected to address the issue at his press conference on Tuesday.

In addition to the threatening message, Rioli also revealed his frustrations on Instagram posting the photo of his tangle with Dale with a note saying ‘Someone’s (sic) once told me if ya can’t take a hit, don’t swing it’.

Bailey Dale. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images.

The former Eagle also said ‘They won’t show the first punch but they’ll show my slap on the chest tho’.

It continues a turbulent month for Rioli who posted a social media message declaring his “hatred” for Hawthorn over the club’s treatment of indigenous players, including his father, Willie Sr.

“It wasn’t a target at the current playing group … and I’m really close with (coach) Sammy Mitchell,” Rioli said.

“I sent him an apology … I’m one of those raw people that let my emotion sometimes gets the best of me.”

Rioli said in the deleted message after the Round 5 win over Hawthorn: “Play with fire, you’re gonna get burnt. My hatred for this club goes way pass last year antics, what they did to my dad, and my brother, is why I can’t stand them. Not the players. #Cococlub.”

Power staff and teammates supported Rioli through the issue but did try to warn him of the dangers of using social media in such a manner.

Originally published as Willie Rioli apologises to Bailey Dale after investigation into threatening message