Willie Rioli "on leave" from Port Adelaide after social media post

[Art Vandelay_]

Must suck having to deal with fwits online.

What you did there, I see it.

 

[SC_Power]

Absolutely pissweak from PAFC if true.

Clubs obsessing over controlling social media messaging, "the brand", club image and the like - players aren't robots, footy isn't dispassionate, and there was nothing prejudicial or offensive in what Rioli wrote.

We need more emotional honesty and investment in footy, not less. More rivalry, more charged emotions, more feeling. Screw Port Adelaide turtling their heads back into their shells - they should back Rioli, back Hinkley, and lean into a great win from Sunday.

What a poor post.
I wrote a rant in response, I’ve now deleted it because all it does is invite vitriol back the other way. So I won’t.

However, every week we have clubs and players advising their peers to avoid social media because of the blowback and vitriol.

What a pity people can’t reserve their hatred for, you know, the idiots and inbreds who actually post those sh1t responses online. But yeah, let’s blame the club.

 

[JHF1870]

Just as I suspected. Large bulk of comments ripping into Willie on Meta

 

[joy division]

Willie jumped online and dropped his hate on Hawthorn and he got a return serve from social media. While wrong, it has nothing to do with Hawthorn FC

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Was referring to Dunstall, and the " yeah but" explanation is no different to whataboutism btw. Want to talk about Gary Ablett and his somewhat interesting private life?, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. All clubs have had issues surrounding this it's just that Cyril aired his grievances publicly which he is well within his rights to do so. It's not specific to 1 club like your implying.

Think you're talking across two very different issues.

Issues like the racism accusations via Cyril, or the infamous camp at the Crows, or the Essendon doping period are things that happen within the 4 walls of AFL clubs. They are the ''issues" you're referencing all clubs have.

Ablett's private life, Nick Stevens, Ben Cousins, Dean Laidley etc etc. Are all issues with private citizens that just so happened to be former footballers. Even Noah Balta's case isn't a Richmond issue. They have no control over him belting a bloke in his time away from the club.

 

[SC_Power]

Port Adelaide have come out and said they didn't like him posting to socials. Most likely the club have shoehorned him into taking it down.

PAFC not defending him and trying to subdue and quiet him is part of the problem that exists.

I’d say nonsense, but you’d disagree with me as is your right.

Actually I will say nonsense.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Think you're talking across two very different issues.

Issues like the racism accusations via Cyril, or the infamous camp at the Crows, or the Essendon doping period are things that happen within the 4 walls of AFL clubs. They are the ''issues" you're referencing all clubs have.

Ablett's private life, Nick Stevens, Ben Cousins, Dean Laidley etc etc. Are all issues with private citizens that just so happened to be former footballers. Even Noah Balta's case isn't a Richmond issue. They have no control over him belting a bloke in his time away from the club.

They actually do correlate if these activities were taking place during their time at the club. Not sure what inside the 4 walls has anything to do with it. They all come under the same banner of club culture. Do we know for a fact there weren't more clubs that had a racist culture? That's the point I'm getting at. We have posters in here throwing stones even when they don't really know what has gone on in past history in particular with this very sensitive subject at any club. It hasn't been made public doesn't mean it hasn't occured.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

When South of the Yarra tells me to button it, I’ll do so.

But as someone who’s life has been impacted greatly by having a longterm Koori partner, until that time, I’ll discuss First Nations players whenever I want.

 

[South of the Yarra]

Most people are good people and understand that racism is horrific and that there is no excuse for racism. The days of 'I am not a racist but' are dwindling. People are more aware, more empathetic, have more understanding and are continuing to learn and improve. Unfortunately, there are still a number of cowards who see racism against Aboriginal people and others as acceptable. This tends to show online when faceless cowards come to the fore. This is not just a Hawthorn issue. It would not matter what club Rioli played for and who he was playing against. The same cowards would light up.

 

[South of the Yarra]

When South of the Yarra tells me to button it, I’ll do so.

But as someone who’s life has been impacted greatly by having a longterm Koori partner, until that time, I’ll discuss First Nations players whenever I want.

Always rated you very highly in these threads mate.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Always rated you very highly in these threads mate.

And I respect your posts more than just about anyone else’s, so until you tell me I’m out of line…

 

[campbell]

Port should have. Blind Freddy would have ffs.

 

[iameviljez]

Yep, was bitterly disappointed he wasn't on the ground in the 2013 prelim for that exact reason.

Given he was BOG the week before... yeah, so was I

 

[Cyclops]

Most people are good people and understand that racism is horrific and that there is no excuse for racism. The days of 'I am not a racist but' are dwindling. People are more aware, more empathetic, have more understanding and are continuing to learn and improve. Unfortunately, there are still a number of cowards who see racism against Aboriginal people and others as acceptable. This tends to show online when faceless cowards come to the fore. This is not just a Hawthorn issue. It would not matter what club Rioli played for and who he was playing against. The same cowards would light up.

Yeah youve gotta be proactive. I come at from this perspective. "I am a racist..."

Got some unconscious bias. Grew up with a lot of Greek mates. I have a positive outlook if I meet a Greek person. That's prejudging people, making assumptions based on perceived "race or ethnic identity".

Took me a while to admit I also had assumptions about other ethnicities too. Pretty embarrassing when I catch myself going " oh yeah, he's X, so he must be..."

As kids slurs were part of our games. So there's stuff really ingrained. My old man told about a WWII soldier who would not talk to a Japanese person. This digger died with burning racism in his heart for his own reasons. Some racism we just have to wait for it to die out.

But the rest of it, if we can stomp it, then stomp it.

 

[iameviljez]

What a pity people can’t reserve their hatred for, you know, the idiots and inbreds who actually post those sh1t responses online. But yeah, let’s blame the club.

Oh believe you me I am perfectly capable of hating arseholes and also thinking this is a shit move from Port, who should have backed their player in 100% rather than telling him he was wrong to go off.

 

[T2B_]

Willie jumped online and dropped his hate on Hawthorn and he got a return serve from social media. While wrong, it has nothing to do with Hawthorn FC

A return serve shouldn't include racism though. I feel like online cowards get more of a pass, like "trolls will be trolls" or something when in reality at a minimum they should be banned on the spot from the platform.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Rioli opened himself up to this. He gets what he deserves.

What does he deserve??

 

[ReturningHawk]

“there’s a number of angles to everything that took place" risks downplaying the seriousness of the allegations.

Willie may hate Hawthorn with good reason, his decision to make a public comment, the manner and timing of it is extremely regrettable for everybody. How do you think this is going to play out the next time the teams meet? There’ll be a whole shit show of boos and scuffles and that nobody wants to see.

Just so we’re clear, none of this excuses the racist abuse that Rioli has copped in response. People are using this as a flashpoint to express their racial prejudice because they feel justified, just as others here are also taking the opportunity to express their bias against Hawthorn and give the club a good kicking. Put your petty club rivalry aside and see the bigger picture here. There is still systemic racism in the game. We need to cooperate in order to fight it.

 

[LOLchie Schultz]

Then if this happens there should be zero complaints when the waves of anger come back in return. Outside of people breaking the law by making threats of course.

Rioli opened himself up to this. He gets what he deserves.

So what was you DM to him. Was it racial, homophobic or both?

Be honest, we know you sent him a DM!

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Rioli showing the ball was the best thing I've seen all year

Hard to imagine football without the Riolis, incredible folk

Willie Rioli is my favourite player.

Love that guy.

 

[TheEscapeClub]

This pathetic mentality is exactly what’s wrong with people.

It’s the same as saying to a female if you wear a short skirt it’s your fault if you get harassed by males.

It’s pathetic and disgusting. Grow up.

I'd argue your mentality is what's wrong with people. No boundaries, no ****s given and no repercussions.

And then there's reality and life.

 

[powerrrrrrrrrrrr]

I'd argue your mentality is what's wrong with people. No boundaries, no ****s given and no repercussions.

And then there's reality and life.

Abuse and racist online responses isn’t a repercussion of making a post online.

A female copping harassment isn’t a repercussion of wearing a short skirt.

Thats making excuses for disgusting behaviour and a pathetic response.

 

[Underarm]

Willie jumped online and dropped his hate on Hawthorn and he got a return serve from social media. While wrong, it has nothing to do with Hawthorn FC

Hawthorn's racism has nothing to do with Hawthorn?

 

[TheEscapeClub]

Abuse and racist online responses isn’t a repercussion of making a post online.

A female copping harassment isn’t a repercussion of wearing a short skirt.

Thats making excuses for disgusting behaviour and a pathetic response.

Rioli posting smack at all hours was always going to draw a response, if he didn't think it would then he's even dumber than his post.

The type and content of some of the responses is another story.

 

[bigfarter]

I'd argue your mentality is what's wrong with people. No boundaries, no ****s given and no repercussions.

And then there's reality and life.

It’s funny to read your post as against Rioli when it applies more to people attacking him.