Willie Rioli retires

[SloppyJoe]

Very good player when on, thanks for the flag.

Unfortunately will be remembered more for off field issues.

Can't believe he ended up playing more games for Port.

 

[randyzany]

Anybody that hates Hawthorn with a passion can't be that bad of a bloke surely. Wouldn't be opposed to Geelong reaching out to him and seeing if he wants to continue on at a club that can maybe take better care of his mental well being.

The empty death threats are typical bluster, as if someone making public death threats will ever follow through with it, it's overblown silliness. There's a racial tinge to those that keep on harping on about it to be honest, including his drug test indiscretion.

Taking one good look at Rioli you can tell he wasn't taking anything that was enhancing his physical performances and more likely illicit recreational drugs.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Anybody that hates Hawthorn with a passion can't be that bad of a bloke surely. Wouldn't be opposed to Geelong reaching out to him and seeing if he wants to continue on at a club that can maybe take better care of his mental well being.

The empty death threats are typical bluster, as if someone making public death threats will ever follow through with it, it's overblown silliness. There's a racial tinge to those that keep on harping on about it to be honest, including his drug test indiscretion.

Taking one good look at Rioli you can tell he wasn't taking anything that was enhancing his physical performances and more likely illicit recreational drugs.

Most players accused of homophobia have been indigenous (and play for a non Vic club). Is there also a tinge to those who keep harping on about that?

 

[Mr Meow]

Most players accused of homophobia have been indigenous (and play for a non Vic club). Is there also a tinge to those who keep harping on about that?

Given that you're the only one I see harping on about that recently, it would depend on whether you're racist or not. Are you?

 

[Bald]

Gotta say, I think the death threats thing was a bit overblown.

I might be on my own here, but I didn't really think much of it.

I mean, did they really think he was plotting to have them killed?

I think if they thought he was plotting anything they'd have actually handed out some form of punishment.

That said - it's probably hard to predict the impulses of somebody that would replace urine with gatorade in a piss test.

 

[HairyO]

I think if they thought he was plotting anything they'd have actually handed out some form of punishment.

That said - it's probably hard to predict the impulses of somebody that would replace urine with gatorade in a piss test.

Kind of like how players making homophobic remarks genuinely despise homosexuals?

 

[Bald]

Kind of like how players making homophobic remarks genuinely despite homosexuals?

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

 

[HairyO]

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

He wasnt seriously making death threats so its only a week. But homophobic remarks can get you up to 6 weeks so clearly they really hate homosexuals.

 

[Bald]

He wasnt seriously making death threats so its only a week. But homophobic remarks can get you up to 6 weeks so clearly they really hate homosexuals.

Are you asking a question?

 

[DangerSloane]

Anybody that hates Hawthorn with a passion can't be that bad of a bloke surely. Wouldn't be opposed to Geelong reaching out to him and seeing if he wants to continue on at a club that can maybe take better care of his mental well being.

The empty death threats are typical bluster, as if someone making public death threats will ever follow through with it, it's overblown silliness. There's a racial tinge to those that keep on harping on about it to be honest, including his drug test indiscretion.

Taking one good look at Rioli you can tell he wasn't taking anything that was enhancing his physical performances and more likely illicit recreational drugs.

As if calling someone a f****t means that you're accusing them of being gay or that you have anything against homosexuals. Doesnt seem to matter.

 

[Dark Eagle 9]

Homophobic? Naaaaaah they're just heterophobic!

Lol at those scared of the Big Bad Willy.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Given that you're the only one I see harping on about that recently, it would depend on whether you're racist or not. Are you?

Everyone's been talking about it bruh.

 

[Spook]

Expecting a similar 1 from Bobby Hill as well I reckon.

No chance. The bloke is going through a separation. Anyone who has gone through the same knows how tough it is. Those of us who have normal jobs can struggle through, but we were/are not at our best. In an elected performance job like professional sport, he can’t just get by and needs to be 100%. It’s just time he needs, and footy/work is secondary as he is paid regardless.
He might want to move to a WA club to be with his kids but He’ll be back once things settle and he gets his head and heart right.

 

[Mr Meow]

Everyone's been talking about it bruh.

On here you're the one I keep seeing bring it up. So I have my suspicions.

 

[Humblebob]

Everyone's been talking about it bruh.

“Everyone”

 

[rfctigerarmy]

I see homophobia and racism, and other forms of bigotry as being completely different to what Rioli did.

Completely and utterly different.

Yeah, threatening someones life is more substantial than homophobia.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Yeah, threatening someones life is more substantial than homophobia.

Context is everything in life.

You're completely ignoring context.

 

[Grumpyshades]

Nice salty thread by a freo noob

 

[PerthBoy86]

On here you're the one I keep seeing bring it up. So I have my suspicions.

I mean the Rankine incident itself. You implied just talking about Riolis indiscretion had a 'racial tinge.'

 

[HairyO]

Context is everything in life.

You're completely ignoring context.

The context of sending someone a DM letting them know that they have friends who will be waiting outside their home and will kill them? This is worth one week but only because you did it multiple times.

Vs mouthing off in the middle of a game when full of adrenalin and having a brain fade? This is worth up to 6 weeks despite only ever doing it just the one time.

Is this the context we are after?

 

[Forward Press]

Great, yet another unrelated thread becomes an extension of the Rankine suspension thread.

Is it because it's more difficult to get your 'correct opinion' out in that thread now and thus need to get more attention from posters who haven't gone into that megathread?

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

The context of sending someone a DM letting them know that they have friends who will be waiting outside their home and will kill them? This is worth one week but only because you did it multiple times.

Vs mouthing off in the middle of a game when full of adrenalin and having a brain fade? This is worth up to 6 weeks despite only ever doing it just the one time.

Is this the context we are after?

No. Not really.

These are AFL penalties - not legal punishments.

So the context is totally different. It's not a case of what is more serious in isolation, it's what's more important to the AFL from a commercial perspective.

That's the context.

The AFL clearly believes that it's commercial interests are heavily intertwined with certain social issues. So for them, the seriousness of homophobia in a sport is clearly more important than violence, threats of violence, drugs, and other stuff.

 

[Cyclonus]

No. Not really.

These are AFL penalties - not legal punishments.

So the context is totally different. It's not a case of what is more serious is isolation, it's what's more important to the AFL from a commercial perspective.

That's the context.

The AFL clearly believes that it's commercial interests are heavily intertwined with certain social issues. So for them, the seriousness of homophobia in a sport is clearly more important than violence, threats of violence, drugs, and other stuff.

That's the context.

Correct, it's about money.

 

[Pavlovs Cat]

Some of the Rioli comments on the Port board for the second last game were hilarious. That white jumper was not flattering put it that way. But he had skill and was a winner and no one can take that off him.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Correct, it's about money.

Everything is.

The AFL is a commercial enterprise.

They need to capture as big an audience as possible, and get as many people engaged as possible.

If they don't, they'll fail. This isn't a conspiracy. There is nothing more to it than commercial interests.

They literally change the rules to get more people watching and more people playing.

If they alienate women, they're potentially alienating 50% of the population. That's very bad for business.

If they alienate and/or discriminate against gay people - they're potentially alienating a big chunk of society that is either gay, or are in strong support of gay people.

This isn't like a bogan US beer company using a trans person as the face of their product. This is a national sporting code that needs to continue to engage with as many people as possible to ensure its own survival. This is the opposite of 'go woke go broke'. This is the AFL prioritising certain social positions in order to engage with and include as many people as possible.

That's why homophobia is more important to them, and considered more serious to them than someone making an infantile threat to kill someone.