The AFL is considering re-opening its investigation into Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli, after two more allegations of threatening behaviour came to light.
This masthead revealed on Tuesday that Rioli was alleged to have threatened a Geelong player during a round nine game last year, while reports on Nine on Tuesday night claimed Rioli had also used violent language towards an Essendon player in a game this year.
Willie Rioli may be investigated by the AFL again.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
While the AFL wouldn’t comment publicly on Wednesday morning, a senior figure who would not be quoted publicly told this masthead the league was holding discussions about whether it should re-open the case.
It comes as Bombers coach Brad Scott held back on labelling the AFL as inconsistent, instead urging people to “draw their own conclusions”.
Scott stressed that he and his players had “no issue” with Rioli and that he was not aware a threatening comment had been made during their round three clash at Marvel Stadium until last night.
Scott hadn’t been contacted by the AFL about the issue when he addressed the media at Tullmarine on Wednesday morning and he said he didn’t expect to be.
He said there was a clear difference between making threatening comments in the heat of the moment on the field and doing it via text message a day after a game.
“On-field is a competitive environment, and what would be defined as a threat could be a pretty loose term. We play a combative, competitive sport and I would expect our players to be combative. But I would expect them to be that within the realms of sportsmanship and also broader community expectations.
“But within those expectations, I still have a pretty firm belief that what happens on the field should stay on the field, provided it’s within general community expectations.”
Scott, who used to run the AFL football department alongside current boss Laura Kane, restrained himself from criticising his former place of employment.
“The operative words are ‘used to’ … I think it’s been really well-documented, the issues and challenges from the AFL generally over the course of this year and I don’t have anything to add.
“I think it’s been well-documented, the facts as they are, and I think people can draw their own conclusions as to whether they’ve been consistent.”
