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AFL "furious" over multiple Rioli text threat allegations
Sam Edmund • May 7th, 2025 10:21 am
A livid AFL will today re-examine the behaviour of Willie Rioli, with a sanction yet possible for the Port Adelaide forward.
The league is furious over revelations in the media that Rioli has threatened players in games against Geelong and Essendon dating back to last season.
Despite reports last night that Cats head of football Andrew Mackie last year informed the league of an incident between Rioli and a Geelong player, the AFL categorically stated this morning that was categorically false.
The AFL is particularly angry that instead of formal complaints being made to them to investigate, information is instead being leaked to the media.
League chiefs were late last night locked in phone calls and sources said there was zero doubt that if the AFL knew on Monday what it knows now then Rioli would not have escaped with a warning for his phone message threatening Bailey Dale.
It allowed Port Adelaide and the Bulldogs to settle the Rioli-Dale incident on their own before it reminded both to “ensure any communication remain respectful.”
Now, the AFL will seek more information from relevant clubs and this saga will continue, with Power coach Ken Hinkley due to speak this afternoon and the Cats also expected to address the situation.
Rioli threatened Dale following Port Adelaide’s loss to the Bulldogs in Ballarat last weekend, sending a message via a Bulldogs teammate suggesting Dale tread carefully in Darwin in Round 9 as Rioli has friends who live there.
