Willie Rioli

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. 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.^[2] He made his debut in the 51 point win against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in the round two of the 2018 season.^[3] 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.^[4]

Willie Rioli
Rioli playing for West Coast in July 2019
Personal information
Full name	William Rioli Jr.
Date of birth	(1995-06-04) 4 June 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth	Tiwi Islands
Original team(s)	Glenelg (SANFL)
Draft	No. 52, 2016 national draft
Debut	Round 2, 2018, West Coast vs. Western Bulldogs, at Etihad Stadium
Height	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current club	Port Adelaide
Number	15
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2017–2022	West Coast	51 (60)
2023–	Port Adelaide	39 (64)
Total		90 (124)
Representative team honours
Years	Team	Games (Goals)
2025	Indigenous All-Stars	1 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2024.
Career highlights
AFL premiership player: 2018
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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.^[5] 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.^[6] Following a long anti-doping review by the AFL, Rioli was eventually handed a back-dated 2 year suspension in March 2021.^[7][8]

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.^[9] He later pleaded guilty in court, and was given a 12-month good behaviour bond.^[10] 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.^[11][12][13]

2022

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".^[14] The trade was confirmed on 10 October 2022.^[15]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2024 season^[16]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2018†	West Coast	44	24	28	14	182	90	272	77	63	1.2	0.6	7.6	3.8	11.3	3.2	2.6
2019	West Coast	44	14	18	10	121	65	186	47	42	1.2	0.7	8.6	4.6	13.2	3.3	3.0
2020	West Coast	44	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2021	West Coast	44	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2022	West Coast	44	13	14	3	104	52	156	41	41	1.0	0.2	8.0	4.0	12.0	3.1	3.1
2023	Port Adelaide	15	19	31	17	136	69	205	52	47	1.6	0.9	7.2	3.6	10.8	2.7	2.5
2024	Port Adelaide	15	20	33	20	149	43	192	44	59	1.7	1.0	7.5	2.2	9.6	2.2	3.0
Career			90	124	64	692	319	1011	261	252	1.4	0.7	7.7	3.5	11.2	2.9	2.8

Notes

1. Rioli was known as Junior from 19 August 2022 to 19 July 2023 after the death of his father in accordance to Tiwi custom.^[1]

References

1. Mathieson, Andrew (20 July 2023). "Junior returns to Willie following year-long mourning of father". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
2. Chadwick, Justin (28 November 2016). "Newest Rioli lost 16kgs and now 'plays like Cyril'". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
3. Duffield, Mark (29 March 2018). "Willie Rioli named for shock West Coast Eagles debut against Western Bulldogs". PerthNow. Seven West Media. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
4. Quatermaine, Braden (4 February 2018). "West Coast Eagles fan favourite Willie Rioli embraces name game". PerthNow. Seven West Media. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
5. Morris, Tom (12 September 2019). "West Coast star Willie Rioli out of the finals, banned for substituting urine sample on ASADA drug test". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
6. Ryan, Peter (12 September 2019). "Rioli provisionally banned under anti-doping code". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
7. O'Flaherty, Alisha (4 March 2021). "West Coast Eagles' Willie Rioli gets backdated two-year AFL ban after long anti-doping review". ABC News. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
8. Schmook, Nathan. "Two-year suspension: Rioli's backdated ban revealed". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
9. Bradley, Zarisha. "West Coast Eagles player Willie Rioli to face court over alleged cannabis possession". Nine.com.au. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
10. Mackay, Melissa (12 May 2021). "West Coast Eagles AFL star Willie Rioli pleads guilty to drug possession in Darwin court". ABC News. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
11. Wildie, Tom (20 June 2021). "West Coast Eagles forward Willie Rioli prepares return to training ahead of end of AFL ban". ABC News. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
12. Waterworth, Ben (21 June 2021). "Picture special: Willie Rioli hits the Eagles training track for first time since September 2019". Fox Sports. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
13. "Comeback DELAYED: Rioli out of Eagles clash". 19 August 2021.
14. Sutton, Ben (13 September 2022). "West Coast release scathing statement as Junior Rioli requests trade to Port Adelaide". 7 News. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
15. @AFL_House (10 October 2022). "Trade paperwork lodged" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
16. "AFL Tables - Willie Rioli - Stats - Statistics". afltables.com. Retrieved 8 May 2019.

External links

• Willie Rioli's profile on the official website of the West Coast Eagles
• Willie Rioli's playing statistics from AFL Tables