WILLIE Rioli will not play in the Showdown against Adelaide on Saturday night, with the Port Adelaide forward withdrawing himself from the game before the AFL announced a one-game suspension as it concluded its investigation into his behaviour.
Rioli has publicly apologised to Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale, conceding he says things “from time to time” on the field that he later regrets.
He decided to not make himself available for the round nine game against the Crows, with the AFL later confirming a one-game ban that prevents him playing this weekend anyway.
Rioli had escaped sanction from the AFL on Monday for the Dale incident, but the League decided to probe further after reports emerged of two verbal threats allegedly made by Rioli to a Geelong and an Essendon player.
In a statement on Thursday, the AFL said “given the cumulative number and nature of the incidents involving Rioli and other players, the AFL has revisited its earlier decision” not to sanction Rioli.
“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,” AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said.
“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.”
Earlier on Thursday, Rioli spoke publicly for the first time since the Dale allegations came to light.
“This morning I informed the club that I had withdrawn from Saturday night’s Showdown,” Rioli said in a statement.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.
“I say things from time to time on the footy field in the heat of the moment that I wish I didn’t and I’m continuing to work with the club on managing this moving forward.
“It’s not in my true nature or character to say those things and I apologise for any distress I cause to individuals or their families.
“I want to thank the Port Adelaide Football Club and all of my teammates and coaches for their support.”
While the Power accepted the ban, they said the AFL industry can do more to understand what Indigenous and multicultural players and staff go through daily in the game.
“Willie, like many of our First Nations and multicultural players, has endured racist abuse both directly and casually throughout his career – not as exceptional incidents, but as a persistent, ongoing reality,” the club said.
“On-field comments that 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.”
Port added it had written to the League last month after the heated fallout from Rioli’s online post about Hawthorn, concerned about how racist incidents had been portrayed – specifically that players such as Rioli had provoked the abuse.
“By framing racist abuse as reactive rather than endemic, we are contributing to a narrative that undermines the AFL’s stated commitment to eliminating racism from our game,” the club said.
