Richmond young gun Maurice Rioli Jr apologised to Andrew McQualter on Monday after his bench behaviour in Perth, with the caretaker coach adamant it’s “no big deal”.
Rioli impudently waved away an attempt from the coach to talk to him after he was substituted off during the last quarter of the Tigers’ win over West Coast.
Staff members twice attempted to hand him a phone that has a direct line to the coaching box, but Rioli instead sat with his arms crossed, refusing to acknowledge anyone.
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Clips of the incident went viral and McQualter said he addressed the issue when the pair had a coffee on Monday after arriving back in Melbourne and it had been put to bed.
“He’s a young kid trying to make his way. I understand that he was disappointed,” McQualter said on Thursday.
“We spoke the next day and he apologised. He said his behaviour on the bench, he could’ve done it better.
“But we move on, it’s not a big deal.”
After the game McQualter said he knew how the 20-year-old felt, having been subbed off during his own playing career.
McQualter said Rioli, who has only played eight games this season, being upset about coming off was a good sign.
“Everyone loved that; the fact the he cared and he’s passionate and wants to do well for our team,” McQualter said.
“You’ve got to love that part of him.”
McQualter stopped short of guaranteeing Rioli would play against Hawthorn on Saturday, but triple-premiership-winning former Brisbane star Chris Johnson said it wasn’t a droppable offence.
“He’s the future of the football club, he’s a young guy, he should play,” Johnson, a 264-game legend with Brisbane, said on Yokayi Footy.
“You could make an example of him, but who‘s that going to help? All it’s going to do is help an interim coach send a message to the rest of the players who he might not be in control of next year.”
