- Source: Willie Rioli
William Rioli Jr. (born 4 June 1995), formerly known as Junior Rioli, 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. He made his debut in the 51 point win against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in the round two of the 2018 season. 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.
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. 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. Following a long anti-doping review by the AFL, Rioli was eventually handed a back-dated 2 year suspension in March 2021.
= 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. He later pleaded guilty in court, and was given a 12-month good behaviour bond. 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.
= 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". The trade was confirmed on 10 October 2022.
Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2024 season
Notes
References
External links
Willie Rioli's profile on the official website of the West Coast Eagles
Willie Rioli's playing statistics from AFL Tables