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

[SC_Power]

Agree with all of this.

My take is that Port very much are a weak club, with even weaker leadership.
Little club with big chip on their shoulder.
Is it any wonder the AFL need to step in to assist running the club at board level.

It is just a shame in this instant the AFL was just as weak.

It indeed would be “a proud and historic day” if we dropped to Collingwood standards in dealing with Indigenous players and racism and player behaviour.

 

[Outtatym]

Yep, clearly because a player exhibits behaviours that are way out of line, that the club must have just knowingly just let him do whatever and didn’t make any attempts to understand, to moderate his behaviour or discuss methods to bring this into a suitable ongoing position.

And specifically how Port Adelaide, a team with a long, proud history of their involvement with indigenous groups, with the most indigenous players on an AFL list currently, with probably the highest AFL representation historically along with the WA clubs, have NO idea or experience on how to manage these situations.

I’ve learned something today, thanks for that.

Why you making this about race?

 

[Cleric]

Why you making this about race?

They are using it to try and quieten discent.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

Agree with all of this.

My take is that Port very much are a weak club, with even weaker leadership.
Little club with big chip on their shoulder.
Is it any wonder the AFL need to step in to assist running the club at board level.

It is just a shame in this instant the AFL was just as weak.

Port is a very strong club with very weak incumbents.

But I don't expect you to recognise that given the wierd chip you seem to have on your shoulder in regards to Port.

 

[SC_Power]

Why you making this about race?

Because Port Adelaide have attempted to explain, not excuse, Rioli’s behaviour because of it.

And those who keep trying to imply that Port Adelaide are simply “pulling the race card” out when it suits is, in my trivial opinion, insulting. Using the words “lack of genuine leadership” and ”juvenile running of the club” and “only when the blowtorch is applied” when choosing to ignore the contributing factors being stated (again, not excusing behaviour but explaining it) deserves that sort of response.

And I really don’t care if those posters don’t agree with me, they’re entitled to their opinion.

 

[SC_Power]

They are using it to try and quieten discent.

Thanks for speaking on my behalf. Although I am intrigued, since when does raising issues of polar-opposite dissenting views like race (and religion, politics, gender, etc) ever “quietened dissent”?

Maybe we should all return to the previous status quo, pretend that the issues aren’t really there, and advise people to not talk about it. Just be quiet and accept the societal symptoms, hopefully it all stays in the background and it will all just “blow over”. That’s a really good way of “quietening dissent”.

 

[bomberclifford]

 

[Cleric]

Thanks for speaking on my behalf. Although I am intrigued, since when does raising issues of polar-opposite dissenting views like race (and religion, politics, gender, etc) ever “quietened dissent”?

Maybe we should all return to the previous status quo, pretend that the issues aren’t really there, and advise people to not talk about it. Just be quiet and accept the societal symptoms, hopefully it all stays in the background and it will all just “blow over”. That’s a really good way of “quietening dissent”.

You bring race into it to try and and stop people from continuing to put their opinions across.
Same when the AFL said booing Goodes was racist, even if people were booing him for being a flog.
What Willie did on field had absolutely nothing to do with racism, and 100% to do with Willie's lack of self control.
To then inject counter narratives about what he faces off field was done to try and give him cover.
Now hurry up and cancel your account.

 

[SC_Power]

You bring race into it to try and and stop people from continuing to put their opinions across.
Same when the AFL said booing Goodes was racist, even if people were booing him for being a flog.
What Willie did on field had absolutely nothing to do with racism, and 100% to do with Willie's lack of self control.
To then inject counter narratives about what he faces off field was done to try and give him cover.
Now hurry up and cancel your account.

Yeah, well, no sense in continuing to push our own opinions forward trying to win an imaginary battle.

Whatever I write here, and what ever you write, ultimately means nothing to each other.

I guess I should go cancel my account, because that’s a really good way for me not to put my opinions across I guess.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

Why you making this about race?

Others have.

Listening to some flog official from I assume Port defending Willie by saying that you don't know how much abuse these guys (referring to indigenous players) cop on social media. Almost excusing Willie because of abuse he has received online.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Port probably win with him in the team. Let the club down badly with unacceptable behaviour. Cost his club 4 points.

 

[VL3OJ]

It's the show down and you cannot get a bigger clash in SA. The game is tight and you lose by a goal. How as a player, do you reconcile, that you gave 110% out there to come so close but because you work colleague is as mad as a cut snake and texted a not so veiled threat, that you lose the game?

This is oblivion for Port. Lines have been crossed, sides have been formed. This is like the Liberal Party loss but with still some talent.

If only Port had some balls and reacted earlier and I do hope Willie makes it back to the big time but as I see it, the sunset is setting.

 

[Duckimus Prime]

Same when the AFL said booing Goodes was racist, even if people were booing him for being a flog.

And why was Goodes a flog? Because he was an Indigenous person that spoke out against Racism?

Because he won Australian of the Year because of the amount of work he does to help Indigenous people? And that he used his profile as an AFL footballer to do it. Work that he's continued a lot after his career was finished.

But you think he's a flog? While you unironically sit around and cheer for Taylor Walker.

What Willie did on field had absolutely nothing to do with racism, and 100% to do with Willie's lack of self control.
To then inject counter narratives about what he faces off field was done to try and give him cover.
Now hurry up and cancel your account.

Willie's lack of self control? Which would mean that he's responding to something. I wonder what that would be?

I mean seriously, we've got the Brad Close one. Where Brad Close ran the length of the field to get in Rioli's face and take a shot at him. But oh poor Brad Close. That one stinks of Glenn McGrath copping the response from Ramnaresh Sarwan and then having a sook.

 

[Dee Train]

And why was Goodes a flog? Because he was an Indigenous person that spoke out against Racism?

Because he won Australian of the Year because of the amount of work he does to help Indigenous people? And that he used his profile as an AFL footballer to do it. Work that he's continued a lot after his career was finished.

But you think he's a flog? While you unironically sit around and cheer for Taylor Walker.

Willie's lack of self control? Which would mean that he's responding to something. I wonder what that would be?

I mean seriously, we've got the Brad Close one. Where Brad Close ran the length of the field to get in Rioli's face and take a shot at him. But oh poor Brad Close. That one stinks of Glenn McGrath copping the response from Ramnaresh Sarwan and then having a sook.

Goodes was always sooking for frees. I’m sure he was booed for the colour of his skin though, which is pathetic.

 

[CrowToon]

The way Rioli has been painted as the victim these last couple of days is so short-sighted.

It was bad enough that the AFL bscked themselves into a corner by only giving him 1 - which they did purely because they didnt want him to miss Sir Doug Nicholls round.

But they've effectively given racists more fuel. Anyone looking at that will not believe that Willie has been treated equally to other players - there is a clear exception for certain players.

If anything it gives racists more fuel to spew their wicked agenda.

It needed to be 1 week with 2 suspended weeks.

Last week's narrative needed to be total condemnation of Willies sickening behaviour without all the excuses being made for him.

Then this week you can shift the narrative to 'he has served his time, we welcome back the Willie who will do better and here are the reasons we want to see him on the field'

Instead this has been an utter shambles as everyone has tried to have a bet wach way and has just poured petrol on the fire of the great divide.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

A few weeks ago Willie made a social media post expressing his feelings towards Hawthorn based on historical racial abuse of his Family.

Clearly the guy has something eating at him, its been there for a while and is starting to show...

Yet people cant see a connection and would rather call it an excuse.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

A few weeks ago Willie made a social media post expressing his feelings towards Hawthorn based on historical racial abuse of his Family.

Clearly the guy has something eating at him, its been there for a while and is starting to show...

Yet people cant see a connection and would rather call it an excuse.

I think you're calling it an excuse. Others, me, are saying his actions are inexcusable.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

I think you're calling it an excuse. Others, me, are saying his actions are inexcusable.

I mean, two wrongs dont make a right, but his response is hardly suprising given how he's obviously feeling.
Its not about making excuses, its about getting an understanding of the 'why'.

 

[Obeanie1]

A few weeks ago Willie made a social media post expressing his feelings towards Hawthorn based on historical racial abuse of his Family.

Clearly the guy has something eating at him, its been there for a while and is starting to show...

Yet people cant see a connection and would rather call it an excuse.

What's the connection between Willies history and what happened with Dale?

That lead to him threatening violence in Darwin?

Did Dale racially vilify Rioli and that triggered him?

Or was it two blokes having a crack verbally about football?

Dale hasn't been charged.

Pony up some evidence of what happened.

The narrative coming out of Port now just sounds like making excuses for bad behaviour.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

I mean, two wrongs dont make a right, but his response is hardly suprising given how he's obviously feeling.
Its not about making excuses, its about getting an understanding of the 'why'.

Yes it is, but you still have to be accountable for your actions.

The Menendez Brothers is an example. Even though, it appears now, they were abused, they are still be held accountable for murder. You don't get a free pass just because you have a victim card.

 

[JimmyBC]

Yes it is, but you still have to be accountable for your actions.

The Menendez Brothers is an example. Even though, it appears now, they were abused, they are still be held accountable for murder. You don't get a free pass just because you have a victim card.

Jeezus take a breath you nimrod he didn't kill anybody.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

David & Will - Kochie Sheds Some Light On What Led Up To Willie Rioli Situation

Listen live on the FIVEAA Player. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. Subscribe on YouTube

fiveaa.com.au

Scroll down to find it.

 

[Teal Leviathan]

The way Rioli has been painted as the victim these last couple of days is so short-sighted.

It was bad enough that the AFL bscked themselves into a corner by only giving him 1 - which they did purely because they didnt want him to miss Sir Doug Nicholls round.

But they've effectively given racists more fuel. Anyone looking at that will not believe that Willie has been treated equally to other players - there is a clear exception for certain players.

If anything it gives racists more fuel to spew their wicked agenda.

It needed to be 1 week with 2 suspended weeks.

Last week's narrative needed to be total condemnation of Willies sickening behaviour without all the excuses being made for him.

Then this week you can shift the narrative to 'he has served his time, we welcome back the Willie who will do better and here are the reasons we want to see him on the field'

Instead this has been an utter shambles as everyone has tried to have a bet wach way and has just poured petrol on the fire of the great divide.

Port has been unequivocal in condemning Rioli's behaviour. They've also been consistent in their advocacy for Rioli's welfare and understanding the context in which that behaviour occurs. As Caroline Wilson has disclosed, that advocacy began well before this latest incident, with a letter sent by Chris Davies to the AFL on the 20th of April following Rioli's comments about Hawthorn and the reporting around that. That letter called for wide-ranging improvements in the AFL's handling of issues around indigenous players, and also for education to be provided to media figures regarding the interpretation and reporting of issues that arise. Port Adelaide have since chosen to run their own media education sessions on this subject.

One of the issues here is that, clearly, nobody thinks that this was a genuine threat. For if it was a genuine threat, then the police would be involved, Rioli would've likely have been charged and be facing deregistration. Evidently, nobody thinks that it was a genuine threat. But if it wasn't a genuine threat, then it becomes a much murkier category of unnacceptable behaviour, and the full context assumes greater relevance in understanding it and imposing an appropriate sanction. "Conduct unbecoming" is where it appears to have settled.

Port Adelaide's prior advocacy for Rioli likely played some role in how the AFL initially chose to handle this latest incident, i.e. without a formal sanction. That was arguably a mistake and the case has been well argued elsewhere. However, that advocacy clearly is not simply an after-the-fact campaign to paint Rioli as a victim. Port Adelaide are clearly genuinely concerned for Rioli's welfare, and have genuine concerns about how issues with indigenous players are handled both within the AFL and reported in the media.

If certain folks are unable or unwilling to acknowledge any complexity or nuance to this and similar situations, that reflects on them.

 

[Partridge]

Fair chance Port knew about these previous incidents beforehand and still chose not to reprimand him.

They're like the reverse-Sydney. Instead of "no dickheads," it's "dickheads welcome" down there.

All clubs have dickheads, it's just some clubs (and fans) are more insufferable than others at how loudly they pretend they don't.

 

[Altum Volantes]

The response from Port and Willie’s camp have shown why the AFL was keen to keep their distance from any discipline for his efforts re. Morris.

I’m not really sure any of this actually helps whatever cause they are trying to champion.