WESTERN Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale is eager to move past the Willie Rioli saga after the Port Adelaide forward sent a threatening private message about him.
Rioli has apologised for sending a message, hinting at potential trouble in Darwin this weekend, to one of Dale’s teammates, a day after the Bulldogs thrashed the Power in Ballarat.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said Dale was “OK” but was keen to put the matter behind him.
“It’s just one of those things where you wake up and all of a sudden you’re part of a storyline, and you didn’t think you would be, and the quicker it’s in the rear-vision mirror, the better for him,” Beveridge said on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs face Gold Coast this Saturday night in Darwin.
Rioli’s message to the unnamed Bulldogs player was to say he had friends in Darwin and Dale should be careful about leaving the team hotel while staying in the Northern Territory capital.
The AFL letting Rioli off with only a warning has prompted criticism from various former players and pundits.
Beveridge said he was “not surprised” the AFL had not sanctioned the West Coast premiership player.
“Obviously Willie’s made a mistake. He’ll learn from it, and we’re all OK with that,” he said.
“Discretion there is important, and I think that’s how both clubs are treating it.
Port responded to the incident on Monday night, saying the “matter has now been resolved privately”.
Rioli can accept a $1000 fine for striking Dale off the ball in the third term of Saturday’s match.
Along with the private message, Rioli also posted on Instagram, expressing his frustration about being financially penalised.
Rioli spoke of his hatred for the Hawks, and the backlash prompted him to briefly take leave from the club.
