- Willie Rioli to miss Showdown against the Adelaide Crows
- Port Adelaide star will sit out derby for his own welfare
- Investigated by AFL for threats to multiple rival players
Under-fire footy star Willie Rioli won’t play in the Showdown against the Crows on Saturday after the Port Adelaide forward was investigated for threats to multiple rival players.
The 29-year-old escaped sanction from the AFL despite sending an intimidating message about Bailey Dale to one of the Western Bulldogs defender’s teammates, the day after a heated match in Ballarat last Saturday.
But the AFL decided to probe further after reports emerged of two verbal threats allegedly made by Rioli to a Geelong and an Essendon player.
Rioli and Port football boss Chris Davies met with AFL officials ahead of the Power’s training session on Wednesday.
He won’t face the Crows at Adelaide Oval, pulling out of the game for his own welfare as he deals with the fallout from the week.
On Wednesday, Port president David Koch said the club was ‘incredibly angry’ about the situation.
Under-fire footy star Willie Rioli won’t play in Port Adelaide’s Showdown against the Crows after the forward was investigated for threats to multiple rival players
Port president David Koch this week said the club was ‘incredibly angry’ about the Rioli saga
Many footy fans were in disbelief that Rioli wasn’t sanctioned by the AFL (he is pictured left, with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley)
‘We’ve talked pretty sternly to Willie about it and said it’s just not on,’ Koch told 5AA Radio.
‘I’m making absolutely no excuse for Willie’s private message after the game.
‘But you can’t mix on-field and off-field comments or it will lead to places people don’t want to go.’
It comes as former AFL star Nick Riewoldt slammed the league for inconsistencies in the way it penalises players and has questioned the claim they were unaware of other threats made by Rioli.
Riewoldt described the situation as ‘another embarrassment’ for footy boss Laura Kane.
The league’s failure to fine or suspend Rioli has infuriated fans, who blasted the sport’s bosses for being weak and treating the Port Adelaide star with kid gloves.
Respected footy commentator Gerard Whateley also felt the AFL’s lack of action was deplorable.
‘I can’t quite fathom where the AFL has landed here….(for me) they are in breach of community standards,’ Whateley said on Fox Footy.
Willie Rioli allegedly threatened Bailey Dale following Port’s loss in round eight – and since then two other incidents have come to light
Rioli threatened Bailey Dale (pictured, with his fiancée Erin Meade) after the pair clashed on the field during the Bulldogs’ big win over Port Adelaide
‘The football public is unhappy to say the least….they (AFL) have pulled up to punish Osama bin Laden masks at an off-season party and flipping the bird, which presumably is done for the likelihood to incite.
‘They seem to have just completely missed the gravity of a player (Rioli) sending a message to a rival player’s teammate threatening (him) the day after a game, which I think, to the common man is going well, that’s not only in breach of footy standards, that’s borderline in breach of the law.’
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge earlier this week said he wasn’t surprised by the AFL’s decision not to sanction Rioli.
‘Obviously, Willie has made a mistake, he’ll learn from it – and we are all OK with that,’ he said.
‘Let’s just make sure it doesn’t happen again.’
