Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli withdraws from Showdown 57 as AFL probe concludes
The AFL has handed down a one-match ban to Willie Rioli despite the Power forward already withdrawing from this week’s Showdown. See what the league said.
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Port Adelaide expects Willie Rioli to return for Saturday week’s clash with Geelong - one of the clubs involved in this week’s AFL investigation - after the league suspended the forward for one game for making “physical threats” to opposition players.
The league’s decision on Thursday to suspend Rioli - and order him to undertake education on respectful/non-violent language and conduct - came just hours after the player stood himself down from this weekend’s Showdown with Adelaide.
The AFL on Monday chose not to punish Rioli for his post-game message to a Western Bulldogs player warning of a hostile reception for Bailey Dale in Darwin.
But their backflip on a penalty for the 29-year-old came after league officials opened up a probe into his behaviour when two more instances of on-field threats came to light, with this masthead on Wednesday naming Geelong’s Brad Close and Essendon’s Archie Roberts as his other targets.
The backflip on a penalty for the 29-year-old came after officials opened up a probe when two more instances of on-field abuse emerged, with this masthead on Wednesday naming Geelong’s Brad Close and Essendon’s Archie Roberts as his other targets.
It comes as the AFLPA urged the AFL to create a more consistent framework for dealing with player disciplinary issues.
Rioli made his decision on Thursday morning to step away from the game against the Crows, saying he needed to take a “break” for his own welfare.
It is uncertain how long he will be missing for, but the AFL’s one-game ban covers this weekend’s game against the Crows.
Rioli’s one-game ban also sparked a call from the AFLPA to urge the AFL to create a more consistent framework for dealing with player disciplinary issues.
Rioli made his decision on Thursday morning to step away from the game against the Crows, saying he needed to take a “break” for his own welfare.
It is uncertain how long he will be missing for, but the AFL’s ban covers this weekend’s game against the Crows.
That means he could return to take on the Cats at Adelaide Oval in round 10.
In a statement announcing the penalty, the league said that “given the cumulative number and nature of the incidents involving Rioli and other players, the AFL has revisited its earlier decision.”
The AFL said Rioli had cooperated with the probe and had made “admissions” in relation to his conduct. They stressed he would receive well-being support.
AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said: “We understand in a competitive and at times combative environment there are exchanges between players on field, but they still need to be in the realms of respect and sportsmanship and that applies to everyone.”
“After receiving the additional information about further threats, we investigated and determined Rioli should not be eligible to play this week and that he undertakes further education around a pattern of behaviour we don’t want to see in any part of our game – on or off the field.
“Respect for each other, whether players, coaches, fans, is the cornerstone of our AFL community and it is a reminder for everyone involved to treat each other with respect.”
An apologetic Rioli broke his silence on Thursday, detailing the stress the saga had caused him.
“This morning I informed the club that I had withdrawn from Saturday night’s Showdown,” Rioli said in a statement.
“With all the stress from this week, I feel it’s best for me and the team that I take a break.
“I again acknowledge that my actions after last weekend’s game against the Bulldogs were totally unacceptable.
“I apologised to Bailey Dale on Monday and I want to publicly apologise again for the stress my actions have caused.”
This masthead revealed on Wednesday that Rioli directed verbal barbs at Cat Brad Close in a heated exchange in round 9 last year.
Rioli pointed to his head when he directed the heated spray at Close, prompting an immediate and angry response from Close’s teammate Jeremy Cameron.
Close and the Cats chose not to take the matter further, as did Essendon’s Archie Roberts who had an on-field run-in with Rioli in a round 3 match this season.
AFL Players Association chief executive Paul Marsh said this was “a sensitive issue” which highlighted a few key points.
“The industry remains without an effective framework for consistently dealing with disciplinary issues and the resolution of this should be a high priority,” Marsh said.
“Players make mistakes from time to time and they are held accountable for these in ways that are very public.
“Now that this issue has been dealt with, our industry should not lose sight of the fact that there are people in the middle of this that now need our support and the AFLPA will play our role in doing this.”
Originally published as Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli withdraws from Showdown 57 as AFL probe concludes
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