Willie Rioli

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Willie Rioli

| fullname = William Rioli Jr.

| image = Willie Rioli 2019.2.jpg

| caption = Rioli playing for West Coast in July 2019

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|06|04|df=y}}

| birth_place = Tiwi Islands

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = {{SANFL Gle}} (SANFL)

| draftpick = No. 52, 2016 national draft

| debutdate = Round 2, 2018

| debutteam = {{AFL WC}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL WB}}

| debutstadium = Etihad Stadium

| height = 175 cm

| weight = 80 kg

| position = Forward

| currentclub = {{AFL PA}}

| guernsey = 15

| years1 = 2017–2022

| club1 = {{AFL WC}}

| games_goals1 = 51 (60)

| years2 = 2023–

| club2 = {{AFL PA}}

| games_goals2 = 45 (74)

| games_goalstotal = 96 (134)

| statsend = round 6, 2025

| sooyears1 = 2025

| sooteam1 = Indigenous All-Stars

| soogames_goals1 = 1 (1)

| careerhighlights =

AFL premiership player: 2018

}}

William Rioli Jr. (born 4 June 1995), formerly known as Junior Rioli,{{efn|Rioli was known as Junior from 19 August 2022 to 19 July 2023 after the death of his father in accordance to Tiwi custom.{{cite web |last1=Mathieson |first1=Andrew |title=Junior returns to Willie following year-long mourning of father |url=https://nit.com.au/20-07-2023/6881/junior-returns-to-willie-following-year-long-mourning-of-father |website=National Indigenous Times |access-date=4 August 2024 |date=20 July 2023}}}} 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 Richmond Football Club player Daniel Rioli and the nephew of Maurice Rioli.{{cite news|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/west-coast-eagles-fan-favourite-willie-rioli-embraces-name-game-ng-b88731450z|title=West Coast Eagles fan favourite Willie Rioli embraces name game|last=Quatermaine|first=Braden|date=4 February 2018|work=PerthNow|publisher=Seven West Media|access-date=1 April 2018}}

Early life

Rioli attended Xavier College, Melbourne. Rioli moved to Adelaide, South Australia and played for {{SANFL Gle}} in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) in his draft year before being drafted by the West Coast Eagles with their third selection and fifty-second overall in the 2016 national draft.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-28/newest-rioli-shed-16kgs-and-now-plays-like-cyril|title=Newest Rioli lost 16kgs and now 'plays like Cyril'|last=Chadwick|first=Justin|date=28 November 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Telstra Media|access-date=1 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://archive.sen.com.au/news/2019/09/05/how-did-adelaide-and-port-adelaide-miss-willie-rioli/index.html|publisher=1116 SEN|date=5 September 2019|website=archive.sen.com.au|title=How did Adelaide and Port Adelaide miss Willie Rioli?}}

AFL career

The small forward made his debut in the 51-point win against the {{AFL WB}} at Etihad Stadium in round two of the 2018 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/willie-rioli-named-for-shock-west-coast-eagles-debut-against-western-bulldogs-ng-b88790746z|title=Willie Rioli named for shock West Coast Eagles debut against Western Bulldogs|last=Duffield|first=Mark|date=29 March 2018|work=PerthNow|publisher=Seven West Media|access-date=1 April 2018}} 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 {{AFL Col}}. Rioli kicked his team's first goal of the match.{{cite web|title=AFL Grand Final 2018: West Coast small forward Willie Rioli boots a much needed goal for the Eagles|publisher=Fox Footy|first=Matt|last=Balmer|date=29 September 2018|access-date=14 April 2025|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-grand-final-2018-west-coast-small-forward-willie-rioli-boots-a-much-needed-goal-for-the-eagles/news-story/22f8354eaca90dd259f019254e335047}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Wildie |first1=Tom |title=West Coast Eagles forward Willie Rioli prepares return to training ahead of end of AFL ban |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-20/west-coast-eagles-forward-willie-rioli-prepares-return-training/100229378 |website=ABC News |date=20 June 2021 |access-date=26 July 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Waterworth |first1=Ben |title=Picture special: Willie Rioli hits the Eagles training track for first time since September 2019 |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/west-coast-eagles/afl-news-2021-willie-rioli-returns-to-west-coast-eagles-pictures-photos-video/news-story/c11de98c024ebbfc3f812f0314e267e6 |website=Fox Sports |date=21 June 2021 |access-date=26 July 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/willie-rioli-out-of-potential-west-coast-eagles-comeback-match-against-brisbane-c-3723967|title=Comeback DELAYED: Rioli out of Eagles clash|date=19 August 2021}}

Rioli requested a trade to {{AFL PA}} at the conclusion of the 2022 AFL season in a move that Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett described as "bitterly disappointing".{{cite web |last1=Sutton |first1=Ben |title=West Coast release scathing statement as Junior Rioli requests trade to Port Adelaide |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/west-coast-release-scathing-statement-as-junior-rioli-requests-trade-to-port-adelaide-c-8227216 |website=7 News |access-date=25 July 2023 |date=13 September 2022}} The trade was confirmed on 10 October 2022.{{Cite tweet |user=AFL_House|number=1579364915504373760 |date=10 October 2022 |title=Trade paperwork lodged.}}

Controversies

= 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.{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Tom |title=West Coast star Willie Rioli out of the finals, banned for substituting urine sample on ASADA drug test |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-afl-asada-issue-integrity-matter-afl-press-conference-drug-test/news-story/72acee7af3a64b910f262a0928536b50 |access-date=12 September 2019 |work=Fox Sports |publisher=News Corp Australia |date=12 September 2019}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Peter |title=Rioli provisionally banned under anti-doping code |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/rioli-provisionally-banned-under-anti-doping-code-20190912-p52qr5.html |access-date=12 September 2019 |work=The Age |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=12 September 2019}} Following a long anti-doping review by the AFL, Rioli was eventually handed a back-dated two-year suspension in March 2021.{{cite news |last1=O'Flaherty |first1=Alisha |title=West Coast Eagles' Willie Rioli gets backdated two-year AFL ban after long anti-doping review |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-04/west-coast-eagles-willie-rioli-doping-ban-backdated-asada-say/13215528 |website=ABC News |date=4 March 2021 |access-date=26 July 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Schmook |first1=Nathan |title=Two-year suspension: Rioli's backdated ban revealed |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/555907/willie-rioli-doping-ban |website=AFL.com.au |access-date=26 July 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.{{cite web |last1=Bradley |first1=Zarisha |title=West Coast Eagles player Willie Rioli to face court over alleged cannabis possession |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/willie-rioli-darwin-west-coast-eagles-court-cannabis/811c85c4-2863-40e3-aabf-ed066a78b45c |website=Nine.com.au |access-date=26 July 2021}} He later pleaded guilty in court, and was given a 12-month good behaviour bond.{{cite news |last1=Mackay |first1=Melissa |title=West Coast Eagles AFL star Willie Rioli pleads guilty to drug possession in Darwin court |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-12/willie-rioli-afl-pleads-guilty-darwin-court/100133020 |website=ABC News |date=12 May 2021 |access-date=26 July 2021}}

= Social media post =

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."{{Cite web |date=2025-04-15 |title=Port forward takes leave following ‘hatred’ Hawks attack as Sam Mitchell responds |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/port-adelaide-power/afl-2025-willie-rioli-attack-on-hawthorn-in-social-media-post-showed-changkuoth-jiath-the-ball-in-port-adelaide-gather-round-win-over-hawthorn-latest-news/news-story/c8cf9484b2a34037ad25946fb32edf73 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}} This referred to the Hawthorn Football Club historical racism allegations involving Rioli's cousin (referred to in his statement as brother) Cyril Rioli.{{Cite news |date=2024-08-05 |title=Court documents detail specific allegations from former players on club's 'racist culture' |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-05/racism-allegations-hawthorn-football-club-cyril-rioli/104185550 |access-date=2025-04-15 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} The post led to online racist abuse towards Willie Rioli, and he soon deleted the post.[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-15/willie-rioli-time-away-from-afl-hawthorn-social-media/105178414 Willie Rioli granted day off from Port Adelaide training after Hawthorn social media post], ABC News, 15 April, 2025 The following day, Port Adelaide issued a statement saying they acknowleged Rioli's pain, but that his social media post was inappropriate; he was granted leave to skip Tuesday's training session.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-14 |title=Port acknowledges Rioli's 'pain' after social media post |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1300380/port-adelaide-power-acknowledges-willie-rioli-jnrs-pain-after-social-media-post-aimed-at-hawthorn-hawks |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=afl.com.au |language=en}}

Statistics

:Statistics are correct to the end of the 2024 season {{Cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/W/Willie_Rioli.html|title=AFL Tables - Willie Rioli - Stats - Statistics|website=afltables.com|access-date=8 May 2019}}

| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | 2018^# ||{{AFL WC}} || 44

| 24 || 28 || 14 || 182 || 90 || 272 || 77 || 63 || 1.2 || 0.6 || 7.6 || 3.8 || 11.3 || 3.2 || 2.6

| 2019 || {{AFL WC}} || 44

| 14 || 18 || 10 || 121 || 65 || 186 || 47 || 42 || 1.2 || 0.7 || 8.6 || 4.6 || 13.2 || 3.3 || 3.0

| 2020

| {{AFL WC}}

| 44 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

| 2021

| {{AFL WC}}

| 44 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

| 2022 || {{AFL WC}} || 44

| 13 || 14 || 3 || 104 || 52 || 156 || 41 || 41 || 1.0 || 0.2 || 8.0 || 4.0 || 12.0 || 3.1 || 3.1