‘Bitterly disappointing’: Eagles boss’ parting whack as Junior Rioli requests Port Adelaide trade

West Coast have expressed their disappointment at premiership Eagle Junior Rioli’s decision to ask for a trade to Port Adelaide in this year’s trade period.

The 27-year-old received a financial offer from Port Adelaide that the Eagles weren’t prepared to match as he looked to maximise the value of what could be his final contract with the added lure of being close to his partner’s family.

Junior Rioli celebrates after scoring a goal.Credit: AFL Photos

Rioli remained on West Coast’s list after he was suspended for two seasons late in 2019 due to a breach of the anti-doping code for substituting a urine sample after being a key player in the Eagles’ 2018 premiership while still a rookie.

He returned to senior football in 2022 and reached the 50-game milestone in round 21 against Adelaide.

He remained unsigned until late in the season as he returned home to Darwin to mourn the death of his father.

Port Adelaide then made a play for him and North Melbourne spoke to him before the Eagles made a late bid to retain him, offering Rioli a three-year deal with a trigger. However, after meeting with Port Adelaide last week he decided to move.

The view of Eagles’ CEO Trevor Nisbett was clear when the club released a statement after being informed, referring to West Coast’s support of Rioli since his anti-doping violation.

“We could not have done any more to support Junior since his infraction in 2019,” Nisbett said. “We facilitated his appeal and subsequent return to football, so this decision is bitterly disappointing.”

Mitch Georgiades flies for Port Adelaide.Credit: Getty Images

“We will put that disappointment to one side now and work to arrange a suitable trade for a player who has high end talent, is a premiership player and is in the prime of his career, having played just 51 games of senior football.”

“Junior has made his decision and while he has indicated Port is his preferred destination we will work to get the best outcome for our club.”

West Coast are attempting to lure Port Adelaide’s key forward Mitch Georgiades back to Western Australia however the 20-year-old still has a year remaining on his contract and the Power are unlikely to let him go.

West Coast and Fremantle have both expressed interest in Gold Coast speedster Jeremy Sharp, although the Dockers look to have the edge there if the Suns agree to trade the contracted midfielder who has played 22 matches in three seasons. The Dockers also have an interest in out-of-contract forward Josh Corbett.

Port Adelaide is waiting on a decision from uncontracted Western Bulldogs’ midfielder Josh Dunkley with the Brisbane Lions firming as favourites to win the 25-year-old’s signature as he is not expected to announce his call until after they are out of the finals.

The club is expected to be active in the trade period as Ken Hinkley enters the final year of his contract with a list the club considers capable of making finals. Essendon remains in the market for a coach, but Hinkley would not be a candidate unless the Bombers short-circuited the process.

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