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Willie Rioli
Australian rules footballer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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William Rioli Jr. (born 4 June 1995), formerly known as Junior Rioli,[a] is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), having initially been drafted to the West Coast Eagles. Coming from the Rioli family, he is the son of former South Fremantle player Willie Rioli Sr., he is also the first cousin of Dean Rioli (Essendon Football Club), Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn Football Club) and Ronnie Burns (from his mother's side), first cousin once removed of current Gold Coast Suns player Daniel Rioli and the nephew of Maurice Rioli.[3]
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Early life
Rioli was raised in Tiwi Islands and later boarded at Xavier College in Melbourne. He completed his final year of school at Clontarf Aboriginal College in Perth and played colts and reserves for South Fremantle.[4] Rioli later moved to Adelaide, South Australia and played for Glenelg in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) in 2015 and 2016 before being drafted by the West Coast Eagles with their third selection and fifty-second overall in the 2016 national draft.[5][6]
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AFL career
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The small forward made his debut in the 51-point win against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in round two of the 2018 season.[7] Following his debut, Rioli didn't miss a game for the rest of the season as the Eagles went on to win the 2018 AFL Grand Final against Collingwood. Rioli kicked his team's first goal of the match.[8] He also won West Coast's Emerging Talent award for his successful debut year.
Following 2021's ban on Rioli for marijuana possession, he recommenced training with the West Coast Eagles just 2 months later in June 2021. Rioli was scheduled to play his first game back in round 23 of the 2021 AFL season but was ruled out the week prior due to a tight hamstring.[9][10][11]
Rioli requested a trade to Port Adelaide at the conclusion of the 2022 AFL season in a move that Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett described as "bitterly disappointing".[12] The trade was confirmed on 10 October 2022.[13]
Prior to the 2025 AFL season, Rioli was selected to play in the Indigenous All-Stars team against Fremantle.[14] He kicked a goal alongside other indigenous Port Adelaide players. Rioli played his 100th AFL game in the round 11 loss to Fremantle during Sir Doug Nicholls Round.[15]
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Controversies
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Drugs
In September 2019, Rioli received an indefinite provisional suspension under the AFL and Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority anti-doping code for an alleged adverse analytical finding for urine substitution. Rioli publicly admitted to having smoked marijuana with other club members the night before his drug test, and attempted to swap his tainted urine with a clean sample in a Gatorade bottle.[16] He was subsequently issued with an indefinite suspension from the AFL, and ruled out from competing with the West Coast Eagles in that year's Finals series.[17] Following a long anti-doping review by the AFL, Rioli was eventually handed a back-dated two-year suspension in March 2021.[18][19]
On 23 April 2021, Rioli was transiting through Darwin Airport where he was stopped and searched after drug detection dogs gave a positive indication that he was carrying an illicit substance. He was caught carrying 25 grams of marijuana in his pants, and was subsequently arrested and issued with a court attendance notice.[20] He later pleaded guilty in court, and was given a 12-month good behaviour bond.[21]
Social media post against Hawthorn
In April 2025, following a win by Port Adelaide over Hawthorn, Rioli took to social media stating: "Play with fire, you’re gonna get burnt. My hatred for this club goes way pass [sic] last year [sic] antics, what they did to my dad, and my brother, is why I can’t stand them. Not the players. #Cococlub."[22] This referred to the Hawthorn Football Club historical racism allegations involving Rioli's cousin (referred to in his statement as brother) Cyril Rioli.[23] The post led to online racist abuse towards Willie Rioli, and he soon deleted the post.[24] The following day, Port Adelaide issued a statement saying they acknowledged Rioli's pain, but that his social media post was inappropriate; he was granted leave to skip Tuesday's training session.[25]
Violent threats
Following a fiery May 2025 match against the Western Bulldogs, Rioli privately messaged opposition defender Bailey Dale. Rioli sent an indirect threat towards Dale, warning him to be careful while visiting Darwin, where the Bulldogs were set to play the following week. While the AFL dismissed the off-field incident, further allegations surfaced of similar threats against Geelong and Essendon players in 2024, which led the league to reinvestigate the threats.[26][27] Rioli was suspended for one match, the Showdown against Adelaide, which he had chosen to withdraw from regardless of the AFL's decision.[28]
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Statistics
- Statistics are correct to the end of the 2024 season[29]
G |
Goals | K |
Kicks | D |
Disposals | T |
Tackles |
B |
Behinds | H |
Handballs | M |
Marks | ||
# |
Played in that season's premiership team |
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Notes
References
External links
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