Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide are investigating a post-match message from Power forward Willie Rioli allegedly threatening Bailey Dale to one of his Bulldogs teammates.
Two sources familiar with the situation told this masthead that the message related to the Bulldogs’ trip to Darwin to play against Gold Coast on Saturday night. Rioli is from the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory.
Willie Rioli during Saturday’s game in Ballarat.Credit: Getty Images
Rioli received a $1000 fine for striking Dale in the third quarter of Port Adelaide’s 90-point loss to the Bulldogs in Ballarat on Saturday, but it is what he allegedly wrote in the message that is central to the investigation.
The Power found out about the allegation late on Monday morning and are in the process of looking into the matter, while an AFL spokesperson confirmed that the league was leaving it with the Bulldogs at this stage.
Dale is aware of the contents in the alleged message.
It is the second time within weeks that Rioli has found himself in the news for a post-match message. On the previous occasion, he posted on social media about his “hatred” for Hawthorn after Port’s 30-point win over the Hawks.
Bailey Dale playing on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
He said at the time his negative feelings about Hawthorn went beyond the drama between the clubs after last year’s semi-final, when Power coach Ken Hinkley clashed with Hawks James Sicily and Jack Ginnivan.
“Play with fire, your gonna get burnt, my hatred for this club goes way pass last year antics, what they did to my dad, and my brother, is why I can’t stand them, not the players”, Rioli’s since-deleted post read.
Port Adelaide issued a statement afterwards, saying that Rioli and his family “continue to carry deep-seated pain and sadness from past family experiences”, but that social media was “not the appropriate forum” to share his comments.
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