AFL 360 host Gerard Whateley believes “in a different circumstance”, Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli would have been suspended for his threatening message to a Western Bulldogs player about Bailey Dale.
Rioli wasn’t punished by the AFL following a threat to Dale after the Bulldogs’ 90-point smashing of the Power last Saturday.
The livewire forward received a $1,000 fine for striking Dale off the ball during the game, but he went again in the aftermath — messaging a Bulldogs player warning Dale about ‘leaving the hotel’ when the Dogs travel to Darwin to play Gold Coast in Round 9.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
The text, according to Nine’s Tom Morris, featured “words to the effect” of “I have lots of friends in NT, he should be careful about leaving the hotel in Darwin next week”.
Port Adelaide, though, believes the ‘matter is now resolved’, stating on Monday night: “Port Adelaide is aware of a private message sent by Willie Rioli to a Western Bulldogs player following Saturday afternoon’s game. The matter has now been resolved privately after Willie contacted Bailey Dale from the Bulldogs.”
On Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday night, Whateley unpacked the incident, addressing the AFL’s response as well as the punishment that would’ve fit the crime in a different situation.
“A lot was said on the field, but in the cold light of day the next morning, he sends a message to a teammate of Bailey Dale which essentially says: ‘when you get to Darwin, don’t be leaving the hotel’,” Whateley began on Fox Footy.
“Which was interpreted as what it was … a threat. So, the AFL looked into this during the day, and they’ve come back with nothing. Nothing.”
The league’s official statement on Monday read: “The AFL has today spoken to both Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs and while confirming it will take no further action to that undertaken by the clubs and players, it has reminded both clubs to ensure any communications remain respectful.”
Whateley continued, asserting that in an alternate situation Rioli would have been banned for such an act.
“I don’t think the Bulldogs needed any sort of reminder (to be respectful) in this,” he said.
“As for Port Adelaide, Willie Rioli did apologise, so that’s the key part to it. Had he not apologised, then maybe we’re in different territory.
“So, before you dig into the background, the prima facie (is) this would meet ‘conduct unbecoming’. And I think, in a different circumstance, this is a straight-up suspension.
“If you’re sending threatening messages to a player the day after a game, you can go and sit for a while.”
Demons great Garry Lyon agreed with Whateley, adding: “That’s the (part) which takes it into a category that needs to be addressed.
“We all do and say things on the ground that you think back to and go ‘I probably wouldn’t say that if I had my time again’, but if you slept on it and you’ve woken up the next day and you’ve gone again, you put yourself at the mercy of however the AFL want to come back.
“They could easily have made it a week (suspension) from this. Willie appears to have a lot on his plate at the moment … and he seems to be a bit angry, and we recognise that, but that’s not necessary, and I’m sure that he’s been made aware of that now.
“Footy clubs are good at handling these things … maybe a week or two away at some stage … anyway, I don’t know enough about (Rioli’s personal situation), but he’s playing angry on the field.”
Rioli had been in the headlines recently, having also made scathing social media comments about Hawthorn following Port Adelaide’s Gather Round win.
He wrote in a since-deleted social media post: “Play with fire, you’re gonna get burnt. My hatred for this club goes way past last year antics, what they did to my dad, and my brother, is why I can’t stand them. Not the players. #Cococlub.”
Discussion about this post