/ Jul 04, 2025
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A senior Geelong figure confirmed the incident when asked about it on Tuesday, but was reluctant to provide any further detail out of respect for their player.
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The Age has chosen not to reveal the identity of the Geelong player.
This masthead reported on Monday that Rioli’s online message after the Western Bulldogs game related to the Bulldogs’ trip to Darwin to play against Gold Coast on Saturday night, in particular a warning that Dale should be careful about leaving his hotel room.
Industry sources familiar with both incidents made the distinction between a verbal sledge on the field in the heat of the moment and a message sent directly to an opponent a day later.
Inflammatory comments on the field are not unusual in elite sport, but a threshold appears to have been reached with the round nine incident last year when Geelong deemed it necessary to raise concerns with Port Adelaide after the game. The Geelong player on the end of Rioli’s remark was upset by it, according to teammates.
The post-Ballarat message was investigated by the Bulldogs and Power, but the AFL took no further action against Rioli.
“The AFL has today spoken to both Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs and while confirming it will take no further action to that undertaken by the clubs and players, it has reminded both clubs to ensure any communications remain respectful”, the league statement read.
Rioli received a $1000 fine for striking Dale in the third quarter of Port’s 90-point loss to the Bulldogs.
A senior Geelong figure confirmed the incident when asked about it on Tuesday, but was reluctant to provide any further detail out of respect for their player.
Loading
The Age has chosen not to reveal the identity of the Geelong player.
This masthead reported on Monday that Rioli’s online message after the Western Bulldogs game related to the Bulldogs’ trip to Darwin to play against Gold Coast on Saturday night, in particular a warning that Dale should be careful about leaving his hotel room.
Industry sources familiar with both incidents made the distinction between a verbal sledge on the field in the heat of the moment and a message sent directly to an opponent a day later.
Inflammatory comments on the field are not unusual in elite sport, but a threshold appears to have been reached with the round nine incident last year when Geelong deemed it necessary to raise concerns with Port Adelaide after the game. The Geelong player on the end of Rioli’s remark was upset by it, according to teammates.
The post-Ballarat message was investigated by the Bulldogs and Power, but the AFL took no further action against Rioli.
“The AFL has today spoken to both Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs and while confirming it will take no further action to that undertaken by the clubs and players, it has reminded both clubs to ensure any communications remain respectful”, the league statement read.
Rioli received a $1000 fine for striking Dale in the third quarter of Port’s 90-point loss to the Bulldogs.
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