Willie Rioli "on leave" from Port Adelaide after social media post

[ferball]

Please don't listen to this moron's take. My advice ferball is 1) Before you besmirch one of the good guys who is Tony Wilson, read the entire article he wrote https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/fo...r/news-story/469601cc682a4b7e3e3f64da4091765f. He's very open and balanced on the subject
2) Please dont ever take up teaching or any position of leadership as you have no idea in techniques to communicate effectively with people you may not have anything in common with. I personally thought he handled it beautifully in an age where racism on the footy field was sadly common place.

I was happy to accept I may be wrong about Wilson when someone else pointed out that I might be.

As far as leadership goes - its amazing that you can make that judgement off the back of one or two internet posts. I'd be delighted if you could teach me the technique you use to make those judgements.

 

[ferball]

I think Hawthorn handled this fairly well. We didn't add any fuel to the public discourse and Mitchell (his ex coach & teammate) said he'd touch base with Rioli at some stage but the contents of this would not be publically divulged.

I don't think any sane person would say that Rioli doesn't have legitimate grievances re: our historical treatment of Indigenous players but he probably chose the wrong forum.
Oh and anyone posting racial taunts online who can be identified should be banned/have memberships cancelled

What forum should he have used instead?

One that didn't make his views public.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

I think that sometimes it needs to be borne in mind that players aren't executives with 20 years of experience, they are guys in their mid-20s with very little experience in diplomacy and strategy.

If you stop players from talking about the treatment of their Dad, their cousin etc on social media, they don't really have another outlet. It's not like Willie is going to be able to issue a press release outlining his grievances.

Agreed 100%.

Its amplified when its born from emotion but as said, sadly it wouldnt matter how he expresses it, people will use their platform to sink the boot in.
He could have done a 1 on 1 sit down unfiltered style and flogs would still react the same way.

 

[jdisc]

Its no doubt poorly worded but the fact remains, social media isnt a great place to air these type of grievances as its bound to bring out the dickheads and I believe that is the gist of the statement.

They're not saying he shouldn't have grievances or be allowed to express them, just that it was a poor platform choice which he understands.
The sad truth is it wouldnt matter how he put forward his feelings, he'd still be subject to the same online abuse as thats what dickheads do.

Ok but you have that conversation with Willie in-person, you don't put out a statement about it.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Ok but you have that conversation with Willie in-person, you don't put out a statement about it.

It msy just be me, but the bit where it says Willie understands this suggests the private conversation was had.
What evidence do you have to suggest Willie wasn't happy for the club to release the statement?

 

[iameviljez]

Agreed 100%.

Its amplified when its born from emotion but as said, sadly it wouldnt matter how he expresses it, people will use their platform to sink the boot in.
He could have done a 1 on 1 sit down unfiltered style and flogs would still react the same way.

In exactly the same way that Adam Goodes did

 

[Underarm]

It msy just be me, but the bit where it says Willie understands this suggests the private conversation was had.
What evidence do you have to suggest Willie wasn't happy for the club to release the statement?

Have the private conversation, don't congratulate yourself by making sure everyone knows you had the private conversation.

 

[StillAtLarge]

What forum should he have used instead?

One that didn't make his views public.

I guess one that actually moderates its content/users properly. So not Meta or Twitter

 

[westie]

It may have been raised before but, why did Rioli "show the ball" to the Hawthorn player? Was it because of his hatred of Hawthorn or was he being a cheeky fellow?

 

[Redline]

Rioli is entitled to post whatever he feels like, but if he thought he could just post it, go to bed and not have any blow back is stupid.

Summed it up well.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Have the private conversation, don't congratulate yourself by making sure everyone knows you had the private conversation.

Or, Willie took the post down and we as a club, fully supportive of Willies feelings on the subject, want people to know that he didnt take it down because he was forced, or backflipped or for any other reason outside of the realisation that social media is a cesspool and it wasn't the ideal place.

 

[South of the Yarra]

There is a lot of second-hand offence being taken here. One of the worst traits of the modern day is everyone's determination to be offended on behalf of someone else or their culture. Stop it. You treat them as if they are a people needing your protection, you treat them as if they need their views decided upon the matter. In the same breath people talk about how First Nations aren't homogenous and then carry on in the next breath with 'Well in First Nations culture...'.

Treating First Nations people as if they are unable to be included in a joke or questioned at all just reinforces divide, it doesn't solve anything.

Jason Dunstalls comments weren't racist. They weren't. Willie Rioli doesn't have to like them but that doesn't make them racist. He isn't the arbitor of racism.

Edit: I'm not suggesting Willie thinks they are racist, I'm just referring to how he could handle them. The important part being that he is in control of his feelings not the people earlier in this thread who are desperate to make this racist.

Jason Dunstall made comment that COULD be taken as a dig but that doesn't make the joke terrible. Where did he speak about race? Where did he make his comments because of his race?

If Willie Rioli wants to take offence that's his right - no different to if someone wants to tell a joke about my old man I can either laugh or tell them to get ****ed.

Don't tell me the bond between Willie and his dad is more special than mine with my old man just because they are First Nations - that's crap.

First Nations people, like any people, are capable of standing up for themselves. They have the law behind them when they are being discriminated against - this isn't that.

People, particularly those of non-indigenous descent, are getting far too righteous about this and making a mountain out of a molehill.

As to whether I think his taking leave is right or wrong who knows? If he felt it was best that's his right. There is no excuse for racist comments so to anyone who wrote him actual racist crap then **** you. But to anyone who wrote stuff that wasnt abusive or racist then good on you - Willie wanted to be overtly confrontational with oppo players and fans he going to learn the hard way that's gonna bite you. As it would any of us regardless of race.

If you think all Aboriginal people can stand up for themselves then you have no idea about Aboriginals.

 

[Aura]

People like them should be rounded up and shot. One of those pricks literally has their kid in their pfp and is associating them to such shit in the process ffs

 

[South of the Yarra]

There is a lot of second-hand offence being taken here. One of the worst traits of the modern day is everyone's determination to be offended on behalf of someone else or their culture. Stop it. You treat them as if they are a people needing your protection, you treat them as if they need their views decided upon the matter. In the same breath people talk about how First Nations aren't homogenous and then carry on in the next breath with 'Well in First Nations culture...'.

Treating First Nations people as if they are unable to be included in a joke or questioned at all just reinforces divide, it doesn't solve anything.

Jason Dunstalls comments weren't racist. They weren't. Willie Rioli doesn't have to like them but that doesn't make them racist. He isn't the arbitor of racism.

Edit: I'm not suggesting Willie thinks they are racist, I'm just referring to how he could handle them. The important part being that he is in control of his feelings not the people earlier in this thread who are desperate to make this racist.

Jason Dunstall made comment that COULD be taken as a dig but that doesn't make the joke terrible. Where did he speak about race? Where did he make his comments because of his race?

If Willie Rioli wants to take offence that's his right - no different to if someone wants to tell a joke about my old man I can either laugh or tell them to get ****ed.

Don't tell me the bond between Willie and his dad is more special than mine with my old man just because they are First Nations - that's crap.

First Nations people, like any people, are capable of standing up for themselves. They have the law behind them when they are being discriminated against - this isn't that.

People, particularly those of non-indigenous descent, are getting far too righteous about this and making a mountain out of a molehill.

As to whether I think his taking leave is right or wrong who knows? If he felt it was best that's his right. There is no excuse for racist comments so to anyone who wrote him actual racist crap then **** you. But to anyone who wrote stuff that wasnt abusive or racist then good on you - Willie wanted to be overtly confrontational with oppo players and fans he going to learn the hard way that's gonna bite you. As it would any of us regardless of race.

And isn’t it wonderful that non-Aboriginal people are finally having the courage to stand up for Aboriginal people. Many Aboriginals have a lack of trust in police, government, authority, courts and non-Aboriginal culture. The more people stand together the more that trust is built and then Aboriginals that need to be empowered will be able to take agency for themselves.

 

[oak79]

View attachment 2284896

People like them should be rounded up and shot. One of those pricks literally has their kid in their pfp and is associating them to such shit in the process ffs

The Drug test comment is in no way racist - not that I condone it in way, but anyone that got busted like he did gets that crap. Social media is a scourge on society

 

[iameviljez]

Jason Dunstalls comments weren't racist. They weren't. Willie Rioli doesn't have to like them but that doesn't make them racist. He isn't the arbitor of racism.

Edit: I'm not suggesting Willie thinks they are racist, I'm just referring to how he could handle them. The important part being that he is in control of his feelings not the people earlier in this thread who are desperate to make this racist.

I have the strong suspicion that Dunstall's comments aren't the meat of the issue here, it'll be how Rioli Sr was treated at Hawthorn in general, and the same with Cyril Rioli.

 

[Oraaaaazio]

The Dunstall thing was a media connection, whether it’s anything to do with what Rioli felt or not, who knows. He did however end his post with the #cococlub
which insinuates his feelings are racism related.
The DMs he supposedly had are a symptom of larger problem in society and not a uniquely hawthorn issue. To deny that is being part of the problem

Fair enough, was just addressing that part of his post specifically as I hadn't seen where Willie had said what Dunstall said was racist.

 

[iameviljez]

The Dunstall thing was a media connection, whether it’s anything to do with what Rioli felt or not, who knows. He did however end his post with the #cococlub
which insinuates his feelings are racism related.

I'm assuming that this insinuates something that is brown on the outside, but white on the inside? Or is there a different meaning that I'm missing?

 

[Underarm]

Or, Willie took the post down and we as a club, fully supportive of Willies feelings on the subject, want people to know that he didnt take it down because he was forced, or backflipped or for any other reason outside of the realisation that social media is a cesspool and it wasn't the ideal place.

Sorry, but that's not how the statement comes across. It read as if the club wanted him to not make the statement in any format, rather than just not making it on Instagram.

And I truly believe what ever forum Willie feels most comfortable airing his fathers story of racism and mistreatment is the appropriate forum to air it.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Sorry, but that's not how the statement comes across. It read as if the club wanted him to not make the statement in any format, rather than just not making it on Instagram.

And I truly believe what ever forum Willie feels most comfortable airing his fathers story of racism and mistreatment is the appropriate forum to air it.

'How the statement comes across' is merely your interpretation.
Its not how I or most others have taken it.

 

[masai tu]

Bit of history here.

I've watched all the Rioli clan play, from Sebastian through to Maurice Jnr. Sebbie could play, but he was known as the keg on legs, ran like the wind and oozed class for 15 minutes, then needed a breather. Willie came later, but was never thought of in the same class as Sebbie or Maurice.

I remember he was drafted by Hawthorn, but never made the senior team. I see that Jason made the keg comment in his speech, which I see as Jason admitting he was a poor runner and pointing out that he beat Willie. It was a fact, Willie was beaten by Jason, and the keg comment aligns with my comment about his brother Sebbie. Nothing racial or "putting the boots in", it was an athletic truth. If this was said about my fathers sporting career, I'd have a chuckle and be thankful that Jason remember my old man.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Bit of history here.

I've watched all the Rioli clan play, from Sebastian through to Maurice Jnr. Sebbie could play, but he was known as the keg on legs, ran like the wind and oozed class for 15 minutes, then needed a breather. Willie came later, but was never thought of in the same class as Sebbie or Maurice.

I remember he was drafted by Hawthorn, but never made the senior team. I see that Jason made the keg comment in his speech, which I see as Jason admitting he was a poor runner and pointing out that he beat Willie. It was a fact, Willie was beaten by Jason, and the keg comment aligns with my comment about his brother Sebbie. Nothing racial or "putting the boots in", it was an athletic truth. If this was said about my fathers sporting career, I'd have a chuckle and be thankful that Jason remember my old man.

Now apply the filter of Dunstall poking fun at a recently deceased First Nations person.

I don’t think Dunstall knew the offense he might cause, but he seems to have lacked any cultural awareness of how it might be taken.

 

[Sirlemsip]

Bit of history here.

I've watched all the Rioli clan play, from Sebastian through to Maurice Jnr. Sebbie could play, but he was known as the keg on legs, ran like the wind and oozed class for 15 minutes, then needed a breather. Willie came later, but was never thought of in the same class as Sebbie or Maurice.

I remember he was drafted by Hawthorn, but never made the senior team. I see that Jason made the keg comment in his speech, which I see as Jason admitting he was a poor runner and pointing out that he beat Willie. It was a fact, Willie was beaten by Jason, and the keg comment aligns with my comment about his brother Sebbie. Nothing racial or "putting the boots in", it was an athletic truth. If this was said about my fathers sporting career, I'd have a chuckle and be thankful that Jason remember my old man.

Dunstall frequently refers to himself as 'fat' or 'unfit' during his playing days. More than happy to tell a joke at his own expense. The story about Willie's dad is 100% in line with his normal humour and had 0% racism attached to it. He should have been more culturally aware of telling the story, but it isn't like it was the week after snr's death, it was over 2 years later.

I haven't seen any of the actual comments made in response to Willie, but they will always fall into two buckets:

1. Actual racism - obviously these are the ones that need to be stamped out. Memberships cancelled. So-called 'supporters' given lifetime bans from attending games. Whatever needs to be done.

2. Not actual racism - comments such as the screenshot above. 'Little Willy avoided a drug test' type stuff.

The problem with the second bucket is that these people are probably not racist (one hopes), but they very well might be.
It is similar to the Goodes 'booing', there is no real way to tell.

There are people (Hawks supporters included) who are racist, but are 'smart' enough to hide it by having a go at Willie, Goodes, JUH, or whoever, by saying non-racist things.

As a Hawks supporter I had a few unkind words to say about Willie when he showed that ball to CJ. I was in a shit mood with our performance, and didn't appreciate his taunt. Nothing to do with racism though. I would have said similar things if it was Rozee, Georgiades, JHF, Aliir, Butters or whoever.


One thing is for sure. As a society we need to do better.

 

[smeltitdeltit]

Fair enough, was just addressing that part of his post specifically as I hadn't seen where Willie had said what Dunstall said was racist.

Nah I get that mate. I’m sorry if I was unclear, the last part was certainly NOT aimed at you. Just the people here using this an opportunity to pot shot

 

[caveman72]

Sam Newman played for you guys and your in here playing the high and mighty card.

Have you ever heard the way he speaks about Polly Farmer? he loved the bloke