Willie Rioli reveals true ‘hatred’ for Hawthorn; Port Adelaide back forward after racist backlash

Port Adelaide says Willie Rioli and his family hold ‘deep-seated pain’ towards Hawthorn, and the club has backed him after racist backlash despite conceding social media wasn’t the right forum.

Port Adelaide and the AFL Players’ Association have come to the defence of star forward Willie Rioli after a deleted Instagram story taking aim at Hawthorn was met with racist backlash on Monday.

The Power said Rioli understood social media was not the “appropriate forum to share his emotions” after he published a post describing his “hatred” for Hawthorn in the wake of a heated finish to Sunday night’s semi-final rematch.

Rioli was awarded a double goal on Sunday night that sealed Port Adelaide’s third victory over Hawthorn in 11 months as he raised the ball in a taunt to defender Changkuoth Jiath.

Jiath knocked him over in retaliation, and Rioli booted a second goal from a resulting free kick to seal the Power’s 30-point win.

Willie Rioli antagonises the Hawks on Sunday night

Rioli posted a video of the passage of play on Instagram following the game with a caption that described his “hatred” for the Hawks.

“Play with fire, you’re gonna get burnt. My hatred for this club goes way pass last (year’s) antics, what they did to my dad, and my brother, is why I can’t stand them, not the players #Cococlub (sic),” the post read.

Port Adelaide was unaware of the extent of how Rioli felt about Hawthorn.

The club released a statement on Monday saying Rioli and his family were still carrying “deep-seated pain and sadness” connected to his relatives’ time at Hawthorn.

“Willie Rioli and his family continue to carry deep-seated pain and sadness from past family experiences,” a Power spokesperson said.

“Despite the depth of feeling Willie and his family have, social media was not the appropriate forum for Willie to share his emotions last night. Willie understands this.

“Willie’s welfare remains our priority and the club will continue to provide support for Willie and his family through this time.”

Rioli later posted a screenshot of some of the racist abuse he had received following his post, with the caption: “Dubs in the chat”.

Willie Rioli's now deleted post on Instagram

AFL Players Association chief executive Paul Marsh slammed the abuse towards the Power forward.

“The racist and homophobic comments sent to Willie on his social media accounts are beyond unacceptable,” Marsh said.

“For what feels like the 1000th time, we ask these so called football supporters to stop racially abusing the players.”

It is understood there was sledging from both sides in the hotly contested Sunday night clash, with Rioli in an agitated state as he left the field.

The reference to his “brother” is understood to be to his cousin Cyril Rioli, who is now estranged from Hawthorn after playing in four premierships with the club.

The Hawks last year settled a federal-court case with Indigenous players including Rioli and his wife Shannyn, accepting that “the allegations were made in good faith and accepting that they represent their truths”.

Rioli’s father, Willie Sr, who died in 2022, was drafted by the Hawks in 1990, but never played a senior game.

It is understood he lasted only six weeks at the club before departing, with his son having long held a grievance about his father’s failure to graduate to a senior game.

Ken Hinkley talks with Willie Rioli on the bench late in the match . Picture: Michael Klein

While Willie Rioli Sr clearly did not enjoy aspects of his time at Hawthorn, Hawks great Dermott Brereton said on Monday he was “adored” by the Hawthorn players.

Brereton said in the era when clubs rarely drafted pure small forwards, Rioli Sr lacked the elite fitness to put himself into calculations as a senior player.

He remembered one famous time trial where a list of 52 players attempted to finish ahead of famously slow spearhead Jason Dunstall.

By the end of the time trial Rioli Sr was ahead of only Dunstall and the Hawks players rose to cheer him on so he might hold off Dunstall.

Dunstall bested Rioli in the last stride — to the disappointment of the Hawthorn players — as they congratulated Rioli for his effort.

While he did not last long in the AFL, he dominated in the WAFL and then St Mary’s in the NTFL as a life member who won multiple premierships in the top end.

Port Adelaide players including Jason Horne-Francis said on Sunday night they had used the drama of last year’s semi-final, including Hawthorn captain James Sicily calling the Power a “nowhere club”, as motivation for their shock win on Sunday.

The latest barb will only add more spice to a round 19 clash between Hawthorn and Port Adelaide in Launceston later this year.

Originally published as Willie Rioli reveals true ‘hatred’ for Hawthorn; Port Adelaide back forward after racist backlash