Willie Rioli Explained

Willie Rioli
Fullname:William Rioli Jr.
Birth Date:4 June 1995
Birth Place:Tiwi Islands
Originalteam: (SANFL)
Draftpick:No. 52, 2016 national draft
Debutdate:Round 2, 2018
Debutstadium:Etihad Stadium
Height:175 cm
Weight:80 kg
Position:Forward
Guernsey:15
Years1:2017 - 2022
Games Goals1:51 (60)
Years2:2023 -
Games Goals2:33 (55)
Games Goalstotal:84 (115)
Statsend:round 21, 2024
Careerhighlights:

2018

William Rioli Jr. (born 4 June 1995), formerly known as Junior Rioli, 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. He attended Xavier College, Melbourne and was drafted by the West Coast Eagles with their third selection and fifty-second overall in the 2016 national draft.[1] He made his debut in the 51 point win against the at Etihad Stadium in the round two of the 2018 season.[2] 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 Richmond Football Club player Daniel Rioli and the nephew of Maurice Rioli.[3]

Controversies

2019

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.[4] 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.[5] Following a long anti-doping review by the AFL, Rioli was eventually handed a back-dated 2 year suspension in March 2021.[6] [7]

2021

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.[8] He later pleaded guilty in court, and was given a 12-month good behaviour bond.[9] Rioli 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.[10] [11] [12]

2022

Rioli requested a trade to at the conclusion of the 2022 AFL season in a move that Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett described as "bitterly disappointing".[13] The trade was confirmed on 10 October 2022.[14]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2023 season[15]

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"|style="text-align:center;background:#afe6ba;"|2018† || || 44 | 24 || 28 || 14 || 182 || 90 || 272 || 77 || 63 || 1.2 || 0.6 || 7.6 || 3.8 || 11.3 || 3.2 || 2.6|-| 2019 || || 44| 14 || 18 || 10 || 121 || 65 || 186 || 47 || 42 || 1.2 || 0.7 || 8.6 || 4.6 || 13.2 || 3.3 || 3.0 |- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"| 2020 | | 44 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 2021 | | 44 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |-| 2022 || || 44| 13 || 14 || 3 || 104 || 52 || 156 || 41 || 41 || 1.0 || 0.2 || 8.0 || 4.0 || 12.0 || 3.1 || 3.1|-| 2023 || || 15 | 19 || 31 || 17 || 136 || 69 || 205 || 52 || 47 || 1.6 || 0.9 || 7.2 || 3.6 || 10.8 || 2.7 || 2.5|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 70 !! 91 !! 44 !! 543 !! 276 !! 819 !! 217 !! 193 !! 1.3 !! 0.6 !! 7.8 !! 3.9 !! 11.7 !! 3.1 !! 2.8|}

Notes and References

  1. News: Newest Rioli lost 16kgs and now 'plays like Cyril'. Chadwick. Justin. 28 November 2016. AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. 1 April 2018.
  2. News: Willie Rioli named for shock West Coast Eagles debut against Western Bulldogs. Duffield. Mark. 29 March 2018. PerthNow. Seven West Media. 1 April 2018.
  3. News: West Coast Eagles fan favourite Willie Rioli embraces name game. Quatermaine. Braden. 4 February 2018. PerthNow. Seven West Media. 1 April 2018.
  4. News: Morris . Tom . West Coast star Willie Rioli out of the finals, banned for substituting urine sample on ASADA drug test . 12 September 2019 . Fox Sports . News Corp Australia . 12 September 2019.
  5. News: Ryan . Peter . Rioli provisionally banned under anti-doping code . 12 September 2019 . The Age . Fairfax Media . 12 September 2019.
  6. News: O'Flaherty . Alisha . West Coast Eagles' Willie Rioli gets backdated two-year AFL ban after long anti-doping review . ABC News . 4 March 2021 . 26 July 2021.
  7. Web site: Schmook . Nathan . Two-year suspension: Rioli's backdated ban revealed . AFL.com.au . 26 July 2021.
  8. Web site: Bradley . Zarisha . West Coast Eagles player Willie Rioli to face court over alleged cannabis possession . Nine.com.au . 26 July 2021.
  9. News: Mackay . Melissa . West Coast Eagles AFL star Willie Rioli pleads guilty to drug possession in Darwin court . ABC News . 12 May 2021 . 26 July 2021.
  10. News: Wildie . Tom . West Coast Eagles forward Willie Rioli prepares return to training ahead of end of AFL ban . ABC News . 20 June 2021 . 26 July 2021.
  11. Web site: Waterworth . Ben . Picture special: Willie Rioli hits the Eagles training track for first time since September 2019 . Fox Sports . 21 June 2021 . 26 July 2021.
  12. Web site: Comeback DELAYED: Rioli out of Eagles clash. 19 August 2021.
  13. Web site: Sutton . Ben . West Coast release scathing statement as Junior Rioli requests trade to Port Adelaide . 7 News . 25 July 2023 . 13 September 2022.
  14. AFL_House. 1579364915504373760 . 10 October 2022 . Trade paperwork lodged..
  15. Web site: AFL Tables - Willie Rioli - Stats - Statistics. afltables.com. 8 May 2019.