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“Horrifying abuse”: Angry Koch launches passionate defence of Rioli
Sam Edmund • May 7th, 2025 12:53 pm
- Rioli has allegedly threatened players from three clubs
- AFL opted not to sanction the Port forward
- Lyon wants more action over the issue
- Sam Edmund says Rioli has become a problem for Port
Port Adelaide president David Koch says the racial abuse Willie Rioli cops must be taken into account when debating any sanction for the Power forward.
The league is furious threats against Geelong and Essendon players dating back to last season have not been formally raised with the league and instead revealed through the media.
But Koch, while not excusing Rioli's message threatening Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale, called on critics to "look at the bigger picture".
"This is what we deal with in the club that people don't understand," Koch began on FiveAA.
"We have the highest representation of indigenous players of any club and have always had that. It's a really important part of our DNA as a club.
"You've got absolutely no idea what they go through, both on-field and off-field. The threats we receive as a club against our Indigenous players would just horrify you, and we see a responsibility to protect them in that situation as well.
"It's a build up of pressure and abuse that they've received and every individual handles that differently and that's what we've got to take into account.
"There's no excusing that and don't get me wrong, but we have a duty to support the players and turn a bit of attention on to what society is doing to these players."
Koch also cautioned against mixing on-field abuse with off-field, deeming them totally different.
"We're incredibly angry about the situation and Willie knows that," he said.
"What is said on the field is one thing. What is done off-field, particularly on social media and a private message to another player he thought would stay private but then was passed on ... we've talked pretty sternly to Willie about it and said it's just not on.
"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."
Koch said the Power were yet to be informed by the AFL that they were re-investigating the incident and considering a sanction.
Asked if Port would voluntarily sit Rioli out of this weekend's Showdown, Koch said no.
