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Rioli withdraws from Showdown after threat saga
SENZ • May 8th, 2025 1:39 pm
Willie Rioli has withdrawn from the Showdown this weekend, according to SEN's Gerard Whateley.
The news comes after days of speculation over the forward's behaviour after he sent a threatening text message to a Bulldogs player about the safety of Bailey Dale.
While the action went unsanctioned by the AFL and Port, it has since emerged that he allegedly threatened players from two other clubs in on field incidents last season and earlier this year.
It sparked a tidal wave of criticism towards Rioli and the AFL for its handling of the situation.
Now, according to Whateley, Rioli has taken matters into his own hands and withdrawn hismelf from the squad.
"We've spent the morning waiting on the AFL's deliberations around the Willie Rioli investigation and what potential action they might take," Whateley told SEN Mornings.
"Well, Willie Rioli has taken matters into his own hands. So from the Rioli camp, I've been told that he has withdrawn from Saturday night's Showdown.
"I think you can read between the lines as to the toll that this drawn out process has taken on Willie across the course of the week.
"So, Rioli has withdrawn himself from Saturday night's Showdown as we await whatever is going to come from AFL House."
Port Adelaide will name their team for Saturday's Showdown against Adelaide at 6:20pm (AEST) on Thursday.
THE STORY TO NOW
The AFL was said to be furious over revelations in the media that Rioli had threatened players in games against Geelong and Essendon dating back to last season.
Despite reports on Tuesday 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 that was categorically false.
The AFL was particularly angry that instead of formal complaints being made to them to investigate, information is instead being leaked to the media.
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.
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS
Rioli arrived at the club before Wednesday's training session but avoided cameras as he was quickly guided into club headquarters.
“There’s an ongoing investigation at the moment and the AFL haven’t finalised that investigation,” Port Adelaide GM of Football Chris Davies said.
“We won’t find out any more tonight, so I expect we’ll find out more tomorrow (Thursday).
“The AFL have met with both Willie and myself and asked questions of him, I’m unable to go into specifics on that with the investigation ongoing.
“They’re dealing with things they weren’t aware of contextually, and they’re considering that in conjunction with the matter from the weekend.
“It hasn’t been an easy period of time for him. But he knows he needed to front up today and answer those questions (to the AFL).
“The club’s natural reaction is to move Willie and provide support to him, but also, we’re acknowledging the fact Willie made a pretty significant error on the weekend by sending the text to the Bulldogs player about Bailey Dale.
“I think it’s fair to say that after the game is a more significant issue than during the game. In this situation, it’s clear that Willie overstepped the line with the text that was sent."
