AFL 2021: West Coast forward Willie Rioli to face court on alleged drug charge

West Coast’s general manager of football has lifted the lid on the future for star Willie Rioli after he was allegedly caught with drugs at Darwin Airport.

Banned West Coast player Willie Rioli “is a mess” after allegedly being caught with cannabis while flying from Darwin to the Tiwi Islands.

Rioli was allegedly caught by a drug detection dog in Darwin airport on April 23 and was found with an amount of cannabis which is believed to be 25 grams.

The Herald Sun understands the exciting small forward was preparing to return to Perth that weekend for a mini-pre-season before being allowed to return to training with West Coast on June 20.

Under AFL rules he is allowed to play football from Round 23 onwards.

But he was held up by the WA COVID lockdown, attended a funeral in Darwin, then was apprehended while attempting to return to the Tiwi Islands.

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Rioli will face a Northern Territory court on Wednesday.

Speaking from Perth on Tuesday, West Coast GM of football Craig Vozzo said the club’s priority was to support Rioli and establish the facts of what happened.

“He’s a mess,” Vozzo said.

“It’s all fresh information. There is of emotion at the moment. There’s anger, great sadness. There’s obviously an issue there.

West Coast football manager Craig Vozzo has spoken to the media about Willie Rioli’s latest drug indiscretion.

“We found out over the last 24 hours. Shame and embarrassment on his part. I think he thought if he didn’t tell anyone it might go away.

“It’s been a real challenge to care and support Willie from such a distance.

“We can continue to financially assist him. We can’t have any contact from a training or performance capacity.

“We can’t assist him with employment. We can talk to him.

“On the face of it. It’s another poor decision. That does test club trust and personal trust.”

Regarding Rioli’s future in the game, Vozzo said: “We have to consult with Sport Integrity Australia, the AFL, our club, board, football department and our playing group.

“We need to deal with the facts and the legal outcome.

“We need to find out what the court determines before we come to any conclusions.

“We are going to have to digest all of this, let the process play out and make a calm, measured decision from there.

“It’s a very fine line that he has run, given the allegations.

“It’s always been a well-being issue.

“We have always wanted to support Willie to be the best person he can be and have the best football career possible.

“But we have really strong values and a strong culture that we have to adhere to. It’s a balancing act and it’s a hard one.”

Rioli will face court on Wednesday. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Rioli was found guilty of a trio of drug offences by ASADA, including twice masking a urine sample late in the 2019 season.

He will appear in court on Wednesday in Darwin charged with possessing a schedule two dangerous drug.

Rioli will hope to escape a conviction and be fined with community service, but his AFL career is now in limbo.

The AFL would normally have to consider whether Rioli is guilty of an illicit drugs strike given he is still on the West Coast list.

But it is not known how his time away from the game will factor into the AFL’s ruling.

A player who is handed a second drug strike is suspended for four games, and while Rioli would have been target tested given his history it is not known if he has a previous strike.

Adelaide pair Brad Crouch and Tyson Stengle were handed drug strikes last year after being found with cocaine after a late night out in the Adelaide CBD.

Eagles will let the dust settle on his court appearance before making a decision on his future. But his career in jeopardy. The AFL will also have to rule on whether he receives a drug strike like Crouch-Stengle last year. Rioli shattered given his return to Perth was so close https://t.co/Qg7Mj8XTWv

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) May 11, 2021

The Eagles have again recontracted Rioli but the Herald Sun understands they will let the dust settle on his court appearance before making a decision on his return.

The club said in a short statement on Tuesday: “The West Coast Eagles Football Club is aware that Willie Rioli will face court tomorrow in Darwin.

As this is a legal matter before the courts the club will not make any official statement at this time. The club will support Willie through this process.”

The Eagles have spent the past decade cleansing the club of its drug reputation, which will factor into their decision on whether he should continue his career.

They will feel let down by Rioli after extending him so much support and so many chances to become a star AFL player.

Rioli is said to be extremely emotional after being so close to a return to Perth, aware he might have again put his career into jeopardy.

Those close to him are aware that while he has committed drug offences during his time at West Coast, he is much more vulnerable when not at the club and in his own community.

It means the Eagles have a decision to make on whether he can show the required professionalism around them or has had too many chances already.

Originally published as AFL 2021: West Coast forward Willie Rioli to face court on alleged drug charge