Essendon coach Brad Scott says his players didn't feel the need to take a comment from Port's Willie Rioli any further

News.com.au

07-05-2025

Essendon coach Brad Scott says his club has 'zero issues' with Willie Rioli amid revelations the embattled Port Adelaide star allegedly made a threat against one of his players in round 3, declaring 'what happens on the field, stays on the field'.
Scott conceded community expectations had changed as to what was allowable and made it clear he expected all players to stay away from the sort of racial and homophobic slurs that have drawn heavy penalties and heavy scorn in recent years.
But he said in the 'combative' AFL arena, he fully expected players would become involved in heated exchanges and none of his players were moved to take anything said by Rioli any further.
Scott's comments came with the AFL reportedly weighing up information about previous allegations against Rioli in games against Geelong in 2024 and Essendon in round 3 this season. They arose after he avoided penalty for sending a threatening post-game message to Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale.
'It's not an Essendon issue. Our players have zero concerns,' Scott said on Wednesday.
'There are community expectations around player behaviour on and off the field, but within those expectations, I have a pretty firm belief of what happens on the field should stay on the field, provided that it's within general community expectations.
'Our players feel that whatever was said or done on field against Port Adelaide should stay on the field. We're not interested in engaging further.'
Scott conceded, however, that off-field indiscretions should be treated differently.
'Across the decades, expectations have quite rightly changed in line with broader community expectations,' he said.
'I think the AFL have been leaders in tackling issues like racism. We absolutely know that there is no space or place for racism on or off the field.
'But on field, it is a competitive environment, and what would be defined as a threat could be a pretty loose term. We play a combative, competitive sport and I would expect our players to be combative, expect them to do that within the realms of sportsmanship. There's certainly a place for what happens on the field stays on the field.
'But I'd stress again, provided it's within what we all know are community expectations of levels of behaviour.
'Our game was played, there were no reports made. Our players, and I've canvassed them, have absolutely no issue.'
Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said he was concerned about 'double jeopardy' given Rioli wasn't initially penalised but conceded the AFL could have 'been stronger'.
'There are different layers of sanction that you can place … there is obviously a slap on the wrist, there is conduct unbecoming and a fine, and there is conduct unbecoming and a suspension,' Buckley said on SEN.
'Could the AFL have been stronger? I guarantee now they wish they were stronger now that more (allegations) have come (forward).'