AFL news 2024: Wayne Milera, Josh Carr speak on Willie Rioli, sleding

Wayne Milera revealed he had reached out to Willie Rioli last week, while also saying players should be more aware of the effects of sledges.

Adelaide defender Wayne Milera says players should be aware of the impact their sledges and comments can have on those from different cultures as Port Adelaide assistant coach Josh Carr says he expect Willie Rioli to make himself available this weekend.

Ahead of Sir Doug Nicholls Round, the issue of what is a racist remark and a standard football sledge is set to be heavily debated in the wake of Rioli’s one-match ban for threatening opponents

Last week the Power than calling out the remarks that he gets on the field on a constant basis that have racial connotations for him.

Rioli trained with teammates at Alberton Oval on Monday in the Power’s light session.

Cross-town rival Milera said he had reached out to the Power forward in the wake of what had been a distressing week for his fellow Indigenous player, and that there should be an understanding of how words can impact people in on-field sledges or remarks.

“Personally I have never experienced it on the ground but it may (have happened) for other players,” he said.

“I’ve reached out to Willie and have seen how he is going but I am sure he is being contacted by everyone in his own community and by players as well.

“I’m feeling for him and as I said before there is no place for racism in our game.

“I think sledging is always going to be there in the game, it is just depending on all different cultures, it is not just Indigenous players, we have a couple of Irish players (here at the Crows) as well.

“So I think you have to be aware of what you are saying and be careful with it.

“It is part of our game with sledging and trying to put players off for whatever reason but you definitely be careful with what you are saying.”

While Milera said he had not experienced racist remarks or casual racism on the field, the proud Narungga nation, Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk man, did speak of how it off the field had impacted him.

Willie Rioli Bailey Dale incident

Willie Rioli Brad Close incident

“It is something that just makes you feel very small and not worthy of fitting in the community,” he said.

“That is definitely how we feel when we are attacked like that.”

Again this Sir Doug Nicholls Round, Adelaide will go by the name Kuwarna and the Crows will wear guernsey’s designed by former player and Wirangu man Graham Johncock and Wirangu artist Aunty Christine Tschuna.

Milera said he was thrilled with the design.

The details of the design illustrating Graham Johncock's family and footy story 💛

More details: https://t.co/LuNnnBNVCTpic.twitter.com/pcC0sY13HM

— Kuwarna (@Adelaide_FC) May 11, 2025

“It’s a good one, we always seem to have an unreal one,” he said.

The Power’s coach-in-waiting Carr said it was good to see Rioli back at training.

“We love having Willie around, at this stage he will be putting his name up for selection.

“Everyone at the club supports each other.

“It is not only the welfare department, we are the Port Adelaide Football Club and we are all as one and we all look after each other he is one of us and we look after each other and he is a part of us.”

Last week, the Power issued a strong statement that for its star small forward and other First Nations and multicultural players they were subject to on field comments that while they “may not seem racial on the surface, can be interpreted as racist to a First Nations or multicultural person who has endured systematic racist comments since they were young enough to recall”.

Willie Rioli withdrew from the Showdown. Picture: Michael Klein

Before the Showdown, Power senior coach Ken Hinkley said he would “doubt that anyone would go there” when asked if opponents would try and play on Rioli’s emotions in-game when he returns to action.

It was against the Cats last year that one of the incidents of Rioli threatening a player happened.

Carr said Rioli would be prepared to handle what would come his way when he returned to the field.

“I think Willie understands what that looks like from his point of view and what could come his way,” he said.

“As long as it is all within the game.”