Port Adelaide chairman David Koch reveals club reaction to Willie Rioli’s threat revelations but Essendon and Geelong have no issue

Port Adelaide chairman David Koch says his club is “incredibly angry” with Willie Rioli but the “horrific” racial abuse he’s copped was a factor as two clubs who had players targeted by on-field abuse declared they had moved on. Essendon coach Brad Scott says his club has “zero issues” with Rioli amid revelations the embattled Port Adelaide star allegedly made a threat against one of his players in round 3 and “what happens on the field, stays on the field”. Scott conceded community expectations had changed as to what was allowable and made it clear he expected all players to stay away from the sort of racial and homophobic slurs that have drawn heavy penalties and heavy scorn in recent years. But he said in the “combative” AFL arena, he fully expected players would become involved in heated exchanges and none of his players were moved to take anything said by Rioli any further. Scott’s comments came with the AFL reportedly weighing up information about previous allegations against Rioli in games against Geelong in 2024 and Essendon in round 3 this season. They arose after he avoided penalty for sending a threatening post-game message to Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale. “It’s not an Essendon issue. Our players have zero concerns,” Scott said on Wednesday. “There are community expectations around player behaviour on and off the field, but within those expectations, I have a pretty firm belief of what happens on the field should stay on the field, provided that it’s within general community expectations. “Our players feel that whatever was said or done on field against Port Adelaide should stay on the field. We’re not interested in engaging further.” Geelong also declared the issue “dealt with” after reporting an exchange between Rioli and a player in round 9 last year to the AFL. “In regards to a report on Tuesday night relating to an incident during the Geelong v Port Adelaide game in round 9 2024, the club can confirm the matter was not raised with the AFL,” a Cats statement said. “The club spoke directly with Port Adelaide after the match and considered the matter dealt with.” Koch expressed his club’s disappointment with Rioli’s repeated bad behaviour but said there were other issues at play, including weekly abuse that fuelled the star forward’s anger. “We have the highest representation of Indigenous players of any club and have always had that. It’s a really important part of our DNA as a club,” Koch told FIVEaa radio. “You’ve got absolutely no idea what they go through, both on-field and off-field. The threats we receive as a club against our Indigenous players would just horrify you, and we see a responsibility to protect them in that situation as well. “It’s a build-up of pressure and abuse that they’ve received and every individual handles that differently and that’s what we’ve got to take into account. “There’s no excusing that and don’t get me wrong, but we have a duty to support the players and turn a bit of attention on to what society is doing to these players. “We’re incredibly angry about the situation and Willie knows that. “I’m making absolutely no excuse for Willie’s private message after the game. But you can’t mix on-field and off-field comments or it will lead to places people don’t want to go.” Scott also said off-field indiscretions should be treated differently. “Across the decades, expectations have quite rightly changed in line with broader community expectations,” he said. “I think the AFL have been leaders in tackling issues like racism. We absolutely know that there is no space or place for racism on or off the field. “But on field, it 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, expect them to do that within the realms of sportsmanship. There’s certainly a place for what happens on the field stays on the field. “But I’d stress again, provided it’s within what we all know are community expectations of levels of behaviour. “Our game was played, there were no reports made. Our players, and I’ve canvassed them, have absolutely no issue.” Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said he was concerned about “double jeopardy” given Rioli wasn’t initially penalised but conceded the AFL could have “been stronger”. “There are different layers of sanction that you can place … there is obviously a slap on the wrist, there is conduct unbecoming and a fine, and there is conduct unbecoming and a suspension,” Buckley said on SEN. “Could the AFL have been stronger? I guarantee now they wish they were stronger now that more (allegations) have come (forward).”