Port Adelaide to appeal Willie Rioli’s two-match striking ban

Port Adelaide has thrown even more support behind Willie Rioli after he was racially abused following an incident on Saturday night.

Willie Rioli was racially abused online after the incident. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Port Adelaide will challenge the two-game suspension handed to forward Willie Rioli for his strike on Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy that sparked a wave of vile racial abuse.

Both clubs condemned the online attacks, which Rioli called out after the game, with Magpies coach Craig McRae taking time on his arrival home on Sunday to apologise to him on behalf of the club.

The contact on Murphy, made off the ball, sent the Collingwood defender to the ground in Saturday night’s thrilling clash.

Port coach Ken Hinkley was adamant there was “nothing in it”, but the match review officer graded the contact as intentional high contact with medium impact, warranting a two-match ban.

“I looked at it … it’s an open hand slipping up,” Hinkley said on Saturday night.

“I always say, ‘Let them take care of it’ and they’ll have a look at it if it needs to be looked at.

“But I have actually seen that one, so I can say that I’ve seen a lot worse things happen.”

The club has elected to challenge the two-match ban offered to Willie Rioli.

— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) July 24, 2023

Former Port star Kane Cornes also accused Murphy of exaggerating the contact, even saying he “has to be better”.

“The exaggeration there … I think that’s a very soft open-hand hit,” Cornes told the Sunday Footy Show.

“When you flail down after a soft action … I don’t think it’s a reportable offence.”

After the game Rioli was vilified via his Instagram account and the AFL is investigating the messages.

Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly issued a statement on Saturday night condemning the racial abuse.

“There is no room for racism in our game and we will not tolerate it – not on the field, off the field or online.

How much more of this racist filth do our players have to put up with? C’mon people - be better

— Paul Marsh (@Marsh_Paul) July 22, 2023

“All of us have a responsibility to call out this behaviour and our club is committed to playing a role in educating as many members of the wider community as possible.

“We stand alongside all First Nations players, staff and supporters.”