Port Adelaide general manager Chris Davies has lifted the lid on how the last 24 hours have been for footy star Willie Rioli, claiming he believes the ‘pile-on has been over the top.’ 

Davies also revealed that the AFL are now investigating several allegations that have been made against Rioli after it emerged that he had sent a threatening message to Western Bulldogs star Bailey Dale following this weekend’s round of fixtures.

The saga deepened on Tuesday, after Rioli was also alleged to have made threats to a Geelong player in 2024 and an Essendon star earlier this season. 

The AFL’s decision not to punish the 29-year-old former West Coast Eagles star appears to have now blown up in the league’s face, with some hitting out at footy powerbrokers, including Nick Riewoldt, over a lack of consistency when it comes to player sanctions.

While Davies reaffirmed that the nature of the threats was unacceptable, he offered sympathy to Rioli, after club president David Koch had said the club were ‘incredibly angry’ with the small forward over the matter. 

‘There’s an ongoing investigation at the moment and the AFL haven’t finalised that investigation,’ Davies told the press. 

The AFL are investigating allegations that footy star Willie Rioli (pictured) made threats to three opposition players over the past 12 months

The AFL are investigating allegations that footy star Willie Rioli (pictured) made threats to three opposition players over the past 12 months 

Questions are now looming over whether Rioli will play for Port Adelaide in Saturday's showdown

Questions are now looming over whether Rioli will play for Port Adelaide in Saturday’s showdown 

Power general manager Chris Davies (pictured) has claimed that the 'pile-on Rioli has been over the top'

Power general manager Chris Davies (pictured) has claimed that the ‘pile-on Rioli has been over the top’

The general manager had stepped in for Ken Hinkley at Wednesday’s press conference, with the senior coach set to field questions on Friday instead.

‘We won’t find out any more tonight, so I expect this will finally be addressed tomorrow.

‘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.’

Rioli, meanwhile, has been back in training with his club and is currently available to play in the Showdown on Saturday night against rivals Adelaide.

But it’s been a difficult few days for the footy star, with Davies stating Rioli had overstepped the line with the alleged text message he sent to Bulldogs star Dale.

‘He’s out training right now, it hasn’t been an easy period 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 that Willie made a pretty significant error on the weekend by sending the text to the Bulldogs player about Bailey Dale. 

The saga was sparked after Rioli threatened Bulldogs star Bailey Dale (pictured with his fiancee Erin Meade) via a text message after the pair clashed on the field last weekend

The saga was sparked after Rioli threatened Bulldogs star Bailey Dale (pictured with his fiancee Erin Meade) via a text message after the pair clashed on the field last weekend 

Rioli is alleged to have also threatened a Geelong player last season, with News Corp naming Cats star Brad Close (pictured) as the victim of the alleged threat

Rioli is alleged to have also threatened a Geelong player last season, with News Corp naming Cats star Brad Close (pictured) as the victim of the alleged threat

‘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.’

Davies added that Port will hold off on making a decision on whether to include him in Saturday’s match day squad until after training on Wednesday.

But he admitted that the furore around the allegations has been too much and said that distancing Rioli from the club was not the right way to handle the situation. 

‘The last 24 hours I think the pile-on has been over the top,’ he added. 

‘That is not to suggest that the issue is not real, but what we are dealing with here the text message after a game and what is said during a game – albeit they are two separate things – I understand in this moment why we are looking at these things as a pattern of behaviour.

‘But if we were to sanction every threat of violence on the field I think the AFL is going to have their hands full.

‘I don’t believe that sending Willie away from the club is the way to deal with this issue,’ he continued.

‘He has an issue to deal with here but we are not going to kick him out of our club and stand him down for any period of time that would suggest that he can’t be around teammates, people who are supportive and for him to sit at home and keep reading the rubbish that he gets constantly on social media.’ 

Rioli is understood to have been counselled by Port Adelaide over the matter, with Channel 7's Caroline Wilson claiming the club 'read him the riot act'

Rioli is understood to have been counselled by Port Adelaide over the matter, with Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson claiming the club ‘read him the riot act’ 

With the Showdown set to kick off in the evening, Hinkley’s squad had been undertaking a late training session to get themselves acclimatised to the conditions.

Davies arrived at his press conference an hour late on Thursday, revealing he had come from discussions relating to the AFL’s investigation and added that the side will wait to make a decision on playing Rioli this weekend but added the small forward could make that call himself.

‘A call could definitely come from Willie with what he’s gone through in the last 24 hours, but again, we’re not taking away from the fact that we’re dealing with a real issue here,’ Davies said.

‘I think it’s fair that he will see how he goes after training, we’ll work with him, and we’ll continue to talk to the AFL.

‘In fairness, I’ve only just come off of those discussions, which is part of the reason why I’m an hour late.

‘But this is something that’s ongoing right now that I think should be finalised tomorrow.

‘Obviously, from a team announcement perspective, it needs to, but there’s still a little bit to work through.’

Davies also added that while Rioli had made an error in his actions, he hit out at those who had heavily scrutinised the player, claiming they didn’t know the full picture of events. 

Port Adelaide president David Koch is 'incredibly angry' at controversial star Willie Rioli

Port Adelaide president David Koch is ‘incredibly angry’ at controversial star Willie Rioli

‘I think the challenge that has happened over the last 24 hours specifically is a whole host of people across the industry talking about Willie Rioli without having an understanding of the cultural significance to Willie of different things that happen,” he said.

‘And I have found that quite confronting over the last little bit seeing a whole heap of people who I think don’t have the necessary depth of understanding what Willie goes through regularly and having their own judgements before understanding maybe some of the things that sit beneath what Willie deals with.

‘People should spend some time educating themselves on some of the things that sit behind what Willie deals with.

‘That is an ongoing thing that Willie has to deal with and has to deal with better at points in time but that doesn’t dismiss that these things are constantly happening to him.’

On Tuesday, Rioli was alleged to have made a second threat to a Geelong player during round nine of the 2024 season at the GMHBA. 

It was revealed by NewsCorp that Brad Close had been the victim of the alleged spray. At the time, the Cats’ medium forward opted not to take any action on the matter and wanted to remain anonymous.

Later in the evening, Channel 9’s Tom Morris claimed that the footy star had also issued a threat to an Essendon star earlier in the year.

Members of both Geelong and Essendon confirmed the incidents had taken place.

Davies also added that while Rioli (pictured) had made an error in his actions, he hit out at those who had heavily scrutinised the player, claiming they didn't know the full picture of events

Davies also added that while Rioli (pictured) had made an error in his actions, he hit out at those who had heavily scrutinised the player, claiming they didn’t know the full picture of events

And in the wake of Tuesday’s headlines, Port club president Koch, said he was fuming with Rioli.

‘We’re incredibly angry about the situation and Willie knows that,’ he told Adelaide radio.

‘And what’s said on the field is one thing. What’s done off the field, particularly on social media, and a private message to another player who he thought would stay private but then was passed on, it gets very complicated.

‘We’ve talked pretty sternly to Willie about it and said it’s just not on.

‘On the field in the heat of the battle is one thing. Off-field and on social media is totally different.

‘That’s why we’re really angry with Willie and what he did, and there’s absolutely no excusing that, and don’t get me wrong on it. But we’ve got a duty of care to support the players and turn a bit of attention on what society is doing to these players.’

Giving his take on the matter, former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes told SEN Sportsday he feels Rioli won’t turn out for the Power this weekend.

‘Chris has largely left it in the hands of Willie,’ Kornes said. ‘But I think the right course of action would probably be to have Willie on the sidelines this week.’

Bulldogs coach, Luke Beveridge, has meanwhile claimed he wasn’t surprised by the AFL’s decision not to sanction Rioli for the alleged threatening message.

‘Obviously, Willie has made a mistake, he’ll learn from it – and we’re all OK with that,’ he said.

‘I think the discretion there is important and I think that’s how both clubs are treating it. Let’s just learn from it, move on and make sure it doesn’t happen again.’

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