Rioli case could be AFL racism watershed
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says there has been a positive from the Willie Rioli case as the wider AFL shines a spotlight on racism in the sport.
The fresh spotlight on AFL racism lifting the spirits of Willie Rioli could be a watershed moment for the code, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says.
Hinkley says the Rioli case has found a positive by triggering wider, sometimes uncomfortable, conversations about AFL Indigenous issues.
Rioli served a one-game suspension for threatening opponents, with Port directly linking the incidents with racism he has suffered.
In the lead-up to the Indigenous round, the AFL said more needs to be done, urging an industry-wide buy-in to stamp out racism.
And many of the code’s Indigenous stars, while welcoming the round’s focus, have called for greater year-round education.
“That was the point of what we did last week as a club… to make sure people just have a bit more understanding of what goes on here,” Hinkley told reporters on Wednesday.
“That has been highlighted well enough.
“And that helps all Indigenous players who are playing our great game, and we create more of those players to come into our game and not dwindling those numbers.
“We make them feel like this is a safe place for them to come and enjoy and express themselves as footballers – I think that’s a huge positive.”
Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli is in line for an AFL return after his one-week suspension. Image: Matt Turner/AAP
The AFL initially decided not to sanction Rioli for using social media to threaten Western Bulldog Bailey Dale after a recent game.
But after two more incidents were disclosed of Rioli making verbal threats to players in other games, the AFL re-opened his case, resulting in a one-match suspension.
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Hinkley said there would be a simple indicator of whether Rioli was ready to return against Geelong at Adelaide Oval on Saturday: a smile.
“When he’s smiling, he’s pretty good… and last week he didn’t smile very often,” Hinkley said.
“We’ll just be very mindful and very, very cautious… clearly his footy is not an issue, we have just got to make sure that he’s emotionally in the right spot.
“It looks really, really positive… he’s had a lot of support from our footy club and I think he certainly appreciates that.
“He’s had a lot of support from the community now, which certainly also helps.”
Indigenous greats Adam Goodes and Cyril Rioli are both effectively lost to the code because of racism, and Hinkley said Willie Rioli also, at times, questioned his future.
“It’s incredibly sad that that is what has happened and the game has made them feel that way,” Hinkley said of Goodes and Cyril Rioli.
“We have to own that. That’s the way they feel.
“I don’t know either of the two boys personally, so I can’t comment on their own circumstances.
“But I do know Willie, and I think that the game makes him feel a bit that way at times, and that should never happen in today’s world.”
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has called for a united front in the battle against racism. Image: Matt Turner/AAP
The AFL is appealing for the entire industry to unite and use the fresh Indigenous round as a landmark in the code’s fight against racism.
But AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon says headquarters can’t fix the problem itself as fallout continues from the Willie Rioli case.
“I hope he is going OK,” Dillon told reporters in Darwin on Tuesday at the launch of the AFL’s annual Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
“And I know he is getting support from the players’ association and Port Adelaide.
We want to have environments where everyone can be the best that they can be, and we have done a lot of work in this area.
“It would appear there is still more work to do, and we know that and we acknowledge that.
“And that is something the AFL can’t fix by itself.
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“It’s something that it’s the AFL, it’s our clubs, it’s our players, it’s our coaches – it’s an all-of-industry approach that we are going to need to continue to make our environments the best they can be for all the men and women that play the game.
“It’s something the AFL is responsible for, but it’s something the whole industry needs to buy into – and we’re getting the buy-in from our players.
“We’re working with our coaches and our clubs on that to make sure that the AFL can continue to thrive and we can have a diverse playing group.”
Veteran’s return in doubt amid fresh Port injury blow
It comes as veteran Travis Boak is doubtful to return to AFL ranks this weekend.
The 36-year-old hasn’t played in the AFL since round seven when he injured his back.
Port’s games record-holder returned in state league competition last weekend, collecting 35 disposals and breaking an SANFL record in the process.
Boak’s previous SANFL game was in 2007 – the 18-year period is the longest gap between games in the state league’s history.
And while Hinkley says Boak will be discussed at AFL selection meeting, he may not return for Saturday’s home game against Geelong.
“We should be really careful when we talk about Trav,” Hinkley told reporters on Wednesday.
“We’re trying to get him in to a position where he can have a strong back half of the year at the very least and make sure he’s OK physically.
“And I think getting him through this week and next week, and seeing how he feels and his body goes, is really important to us, but what level we do that at will be decided later.”
Hinkley has one big hole to fill, with play-making half-back Kane Farrell sidelined for four to six weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on a knee.
“It’s a challenge when you lose good players,” Hinkley said.
“But we’ve got a bit of depth in that position.
“And we improved that depth, we put a bloke called (Connor) Rozee down there and he’s going OK, so we’ve got some support down there that can help.
“We’ve got some good players … who can come in and certainly support that role.”
Hinkley noted Port (13th, 4-5) and Geelong (seventh, 5-4) enter the Adelaide Oval encounter after close losses – the Power by five points to Adelaide, the Cats by four to GWS.
The fixture is also a rematch of last year’s qualifying final, when Port crashed to an 84-point defeat to Geelong.
“A high-quality team who we’ve played a fair bit – and they’ve beaten us a couple of times at different times, and we’ve been able to beat them a couple of times,” Hinkley said of the Cats.
“It sets up a pretty interesting week for both teams, I would have thought.
“We’re both coming off narrow losses, we both need to win.”
