Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli likely to miss Showdown after alleged threats

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 strongly considering fining or suspending Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli after a day of drama saw them investigate fresh claims over other threats made to opposition players.

It comes as AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon used Wednesday’s CEO hook-up to warn all 18 clubs of the need to inform them of any threats made to players’ safety on and off the field to ensure the league is across all the relevant information.

This masthead understands Rioli has been distressed by the enormous fallout to the Bailey Dale incident, as the enquiries remained ongoing and likely to be resolved on Thursday.

Rioli trained on Wednesday night but remains in serious doubt for Saturday night’s Showdown clash with Adelaide, regardless of the AFL’s decision on whether to suspend or fine him, with Port Adelaide mindful of his welfare.

“The AFL has met with both Willie and myself today, they have asked a number of questions of him… a couple of hours of talking to the AFL this afternoon,” Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies said on Wednesday.

“Willie, he is out training now, it hasn’t been an easy period of time for him but he knows that he needed to front up today and answer those questions and do whatever he can to move the situation forward.

“I think anyone who has played sport at a professional level would understand that there are things said during a game, which doesn’t make them right, but in this situation it is clear that Willie overstepped the line after the game with the text that was sent.”

Willie Rioli has been distressed by the incident this week. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images.

This masthead revealed on Wednesday that Rioli directed verbal barbs at Geelong’s Brad Close in a heated exchange in round 9 last year and also had an on-field exchange with Essendon youngster Archie Roberts in round 3 this year.

Rioli pointed to his head when he directed the venomous and horrific spray at Close, prompting an immediate and angry response from Close’s superstar teammate Jeremy Cameron.

But Close and Roberts chose not to take the matter any further at the time.

Once the allegations emerged, the league was forced to re-investigate Rioli only two days after clearing him for threatening Western Bulldogs’ Bailey Dale about leaving his hotel in Darwin on Saturday.

The league remains furious it had no knowledge of those earlier incidents when it spoke with Rioli and Port Adelaide officials on Monday about his hostile message to a Bulldogs’ teammate the day after the Ballarat game, which was directed at Dale.

Senior league officials said it was an embarrassing look for the game for the clubs and league to be dealing with fresh details of the other allegations after attempting to finalise the matter on Monday night.

This masthead understands that AFL investigators spoke to all four clubs involved in the allegations on Wednesday, and could speak further with Rioli, as the issue looks certain to head into a fourth day on Thursday.

The Port Adelaide forward could be fined or suspended under its conduct unbecoming rule, with league powerbrokers considering whether Rioli could be found to have brought the game into disrepute with his threats.

There was strong support across the industry for a one-game ban as minimum for Rioli, which would sideline him for Saturday night’s blockbuster Showdown against local rivals Adelaide.

But the AFL remains acutely aware of the cultural sensitivities surrounding this issue, with Rioli the subject of racial abuse on social media following the Power’s Gather Round victory against Hawthorn, and his own criticism of the Hawks.

Willie Rioli is unlikely to play this week. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Port Adelaide officials were aware that Rioli had overstepped the mark on the field in recent times with his heated verbal exchanges.

They are frustrated with Rioli, but have tried to support him as a person and keep him in the fold.

“It could definitely come from Willie (not playing), with what he has gone through in the last 24 hours and not taking away from that we are dealing with a real issue here, it is fair that he sees how he goes after training, we will continue to talk to him and talk to the AFL,” Davies said.

“This is something that is ongoing now, that should be finalised (on Thursday). From a team announcement perspective it needs to.

“That will obviously be a consideration (taking it out of his hands), but again I would imagine it would be tough making blanket decisions without knowing the individuals as part of it.

“I’ve seen plenty of people have opinions on that and I respect those, the only difference is that maybe they don’t know Willie, they don’t know the entire context of the situation and the people at this club do.

“We are continuing to try and support him as much as we can. If that means pulling him out of the game then we will do that… but the AFL might have a hand in that as well.”

The incident against Geelong played out between the Port forward and Cats’ goal kicker 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.

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.

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 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, with coach Brad Scott saying on Wednesday it was a league issue, not a club issue.

Originally published as Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli likely to miss Showdown after alleged threats