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

[PenfoldsFan]

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.

Not saying there is anything to suggest that there is any link to the Dale incident or the other 2 of a racist nature other than to say Willie clearly isnt in a good headspace right now and from the fact that he's recently referenced things that happened to his Family years ago, I'd suggest he hasn't been for a long time.

That can happen you know, not everyone deals with their mental demons in a rational manner.

Didnt think that would need to be spelled out but here we are.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

Not saying there is anything to suggest that there is any link to the Dale incident or the other 2 of a racist nature other than to say Willie clearly isnt in a good headspace right now and from the fact that he's recently referenced things that happened to his Family years ago, I'd suggest he hasn't been for a long time.

That can happen you know, not everyone deals with their mental demons in a rational manner.

Didnt think that would need to be spelled out but here we are.

Your president said as much this morning.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Your president said as much this morning.

I havent read it, what did he say?

 

[Cleric]

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.

Willies lack of restraint, yes.
Even Willie himself has come out and accepted that he did the wrong thing.
Time to pack up trying to defend his actions.
He will learn from it and hopefully concentrate more on his football than plotting how to send other players dewth threats.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Your president said as much this morning.

Just listened to that now, been at work all day so hadnt heard it before.
If Kochie suggests there were cultural insensitivities thrown then why is that not being looked at more closely?

Lets be honest, with this coming up so soon after the Hawthorn commentry its not a stretch to considrr something may have been said to him to get a reaction.

 

[Obeanie1]

Not saying there is anything to suggest that there is any link to the Dale incident or the other 2 of a racist nature other than to say Willie clearly isnt in a good headspace right now and from the fact that he's recently referenced things that happened to his Family years ago, I'd suggest he hasn't been for a long time.

That can happen you know, not everyone deals with their mental demons in a rational manner.

Didnt think that would need to be spelled out but here we are.

So he is angry and aggressive because what happened to his father, his uncle / cousin Cyril, indigenous people in general and himself.

You are correct. That doesn't need to be explained as we as a nation are now well and truly educated on this issue.

So why did Port raise it as a topic? Further education or as an excuse? It comes across as an excuse for bad behaviour.

To be honest I have a lot of empathy for what indigenous people have been through. And continue to go through. But that does not excuse threatening violence or carrying it out.

This is a complex issue however when people are threatened or hurt it becomes pretty simple for the person copping the threats or physically getting hurt.

Will say this. Darwin is on the brink of major unrest and retaliation by the community against violent individuals. A community backlash is just around the corner. We have just about had enough of social unrest and violence.

 

[Obeanie1]

No I don't accept that.

Nobody else in the league does it except one dickhead.

So that shows it is most definitely not part of the league.

LIke many things like this they at the time might have thought they will keep it quiet if it's a once off. Once they they learned it's not a once off the benefit of the doubt was lifted and they thought this idiot needs to be exposed.

Do not believe Willie is the only player in the AFL to threaten others on or off the field.

That's very naive.

 

[MaccaKnowsBest]

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.

The media forgot to mention that Willie signed off his text message with “lol” # justjoking

 

[SC_Power]

The media forgot to mention that Willie signed off his text message with “lol” # justjoking

To be fair, that’s what the AFL forgets to do as well.

 

[Soggy2112]

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.

There are obviously people trying to paint this as black and white when it isn’t, however, I do think that by not addressing the behaviour and issuing a consequence, the AFL has actually done Willie a disservice.

The post about the Hawks was probably not in line with what you want players posting, however, his anger towards Hawthorn is absolutely justifiable.

However, making threats against a person’s life is completely unjustifiable. Unless Dale and the Geelong player were racially abusing him, they are also victims here.

There simply had to be a consequence for that. If the AFL/Port had done that, the narrative could rightly have been “Willie is receiving a suspension/fine, he has been through a lot and we are going to support him, please respect his privacy”.

Instead now, the narrative has switched to this gross whataboutism, and the pile on has gotten bigger for Rioli. Yet again the AFL has attempted to sweep something under the rug and yet again it’s caused more pain for all involved.

I think any empathetic person can see that Rioli is probably struggling and needs support. However, I don’t believe that not holding a person accountable for their actions is ever going to be productive, especially for the person who’s done the wrong thing.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Just listened to that now, been at work all day so hadnt heard it before.
If Kochie suggests there were cultural insensitivities thrown then why is that not being looked at more closely?

Lets be honest, with this coming up so soon after the Hawthorn commentry its not a stretch to considrr something may have been said to him to get a reaction.

Well as you said, if there was something that could be deemed ‘culturally insensitive’ the league would have been all over it and Port Adelaide would have demanded it be fully investigated…but they didn’t did they?

They just chose to insinuate something ‘culturally sensitive’ (let’s be real here - that’s code for racist), rather than actually having it investigated - which is a bit unusual since Willie Rioli has made it very clear he has no issues calling out racist behaviour.

I think given Bailey Dale wasn’t the guy getting fined for striking, or the guy sending threats online, he probably deserves the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t cross that line at all.

 

[IamKeyserSoze]

I've yet to see anyone mention what Caro dropped on radio Saturday morning when talking/debating with Leathal about players getting into Willie about his weight. Leathal was going down the track of it not being racial calling another player fat but Caro dropped that players have targeted him by saying he's been eating to much of something. That something is know to be culturally significate. Leathal went oh, that does change things and they quickly moved on to another topic.
What was mentioned would explain why Port have bought up the Racial aspect.
Might explain why Port and the Bulldogs resolved the issue themselves and were happy to move on but the media trash got an excavator out to dig for something and kaboom things escalated.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Well as you said, if there was something that could be deemed ‘culturally insensitive’ the league would have been all over it and Port Adelaide would have demanded it be fully investigated…but they didn’t did they?

They just chose to insinuate something ‘culturally sensitive’ (let’s be real here - that’s code for racist), rather than actually having it investigated - which is a bit unusual since Willie Rioli has made it very clear he has no issues calling out racist behaviour.

I think given Bailey Dale wasn’t the guy getting fined for striking, or the guy sending threats online, he probably deserves the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t cross that line at all.

In a season where the AFL has flip flopped all over the place on a variety of topics you reckon they'll be transparent about this on the eve of Doug Nicholls round?

Righto.

 

[CrowToon]

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.

It reflects nothing poor I'll tell you that much.

If you think that the AFL not sanctioning a threat of violence is acceptable because Port had previously raised an issue then there is only one person who has a poor reflection cast upon them. It isn't 'arguably a mistake' it was a mistake.

The fact that people continue to bang the drum that there is any complexity here speaks to a wider issue that for too long has been allowed to creep into society to our detriment.

Until we take the line back to a harder stance then people will continue to do the wrong thing and many others will continue to be frustrated.

The ONLY acceptable response to this whole thing was a public and firm denunciation of a cowardly act that is unacceptable in any humane society. Willie's actions were despicable and he should be embarrassed.

Instead Port did the denunciation with all of the if, buts and alsos that leave a sour taste in any good person's mouth.


People such as yourself carry on with all these things that make sense IN THEORY but never in practice.

Young people are destroying classrooms and stealing cars because all the adults in the rooms that matter keep telling us they have it tough ajd they don't understand their actions.

Well they certainly understand the system and what they feel safe enough to attempt to get away with.

The fact is whilst you and others make excuses for people who do wicked things then good people have to suffer for it for the sake of inclusion.

We have classrooms of 23 who have to have their education denied and dumbed down so 1 evil kid can feel included.

We are now being told we have to watch as First Nations people threaten others with violence and they become the victims.

It's insane and people have becime addicted to trying to be the 'right' instead of doing what is actually right.

It's a disgrace and you are absolutely part of the problem.

 

[Duckimus Prime]

I think given Bailey Dale wasn’t the guy getting fined for striking, or the guy sending threats online, he probably deserves the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t cross that line at all.

Why? The video footage clearly shows that he hits Rioli first. But you know, its just Willie that gets fined for striking.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Utterly classless selection tonight from Port.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Why? The video footage clearly shows that he hits Rioli first. But you know, its just Willie that gets fined for striking.

Oh so Willie was just retaliating to a strike from Dale?

Or did Dale make a culturally insensitive remark and then strike him?

 

[Handyandy]

Oh so Willie was just retaliating to a strike from Dale?

Or did Dale make a culturally insensitive remark and then strike him?

Both

 

[Handyandy]

And he has taken a dive
Should have been done for staging

 

[Couch Coach]

Both

A lot of smearing of Dale in this thread with no backup.

What about Close and Roberts? Are Port fans going to call them racist too as to excuse Rioli's actions?

 

[Handyandy]

A lot of smearing of Dale in this thread with no backup.

What about Close and Roberts? Are Port fans going to call them racist too as to excuse Rioli's actions?

Oh poor dale. Runs the length of the field, gets in Riolis face, strikes him, then takes a dive holding his face after being struck in the chest.
Poor Dale, my heart goes out to him & other diving stagers

 

[Couch Coach]

Oh poor dale. Runs the length of the field, gets in Riolis face, strikes him, then takes a dive holding his face after being struck in the chest.
Poor Dale, my heart goes out to him & other diving stagers

Staging is one thing.

Port fans skirting around the edges calling him, and presumable Close and Roberts, racist to excuse their players actions is another.

If Dale, Close or Roberts have done (by actions, words or other) something racist then make a complaint.
Stop smearing other players without proof to excuse Rioli's actions.

 

[Handyandy]

Staging is one thing.

Port fans skirting around the edges calling him, and presumable Close and Roberts, racist to excuse their players actions is another.

If Dale, Close or Roberts have done (by actions, words or other) something racist then make a complaint.
Stop smearing other players without proof to excuse Rioli's actions.

Staging & racially vilifying their opponents.

It was stated earlier in this thread that Caro discussed the matter with Leigh Matthew’s on radio and said the dogs players were saying ‘racially insensitive’ things to Rioli during the game. Along with racial slurs being hurled by supporters. But don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Port have lodged a general complaint about the racist treatment Willie & our other indigenous players are receiving 3 weeks prior to this incident & the AFL didn’t respond.

Why do you think the AFL wanted to sweep this under the carpet? Because it reflects poorly on everyone.

 

[Couch Coach]

Staging & racially vilifying their opponents.

It was stated earlier in this thread that Caro discussed the matter with Leigh Matthew’s on radio and said the dogs players were saying ‘racially insensitive’ things to Rioli during the game. Along with racial slurs being hurled by supporters. But don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Port have lodged a general complaint about the racist treatment Willie & our other indigenous players are receiving 3 weeks prior to this incident & the AFL didn’t respond.

Why do you think the AFL wanted to sweep this under the carpet? Because it reflects poorly on everyone.

"Racially vilifying" and "racially insensitive" are two completly different things.

Insensitive = physical harm threats are totally out of line.
Vilifying = Rioli's actions understandable but not excusable. A formal complaint should have been made againt the player/s involved.

 

[Angak]