Port missed Rioli in narrow loss to Crows: Hinkley
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley expects forward Willie Rioli to return to action next weekend after a one-game absence for threatening rival players.
Rioli missed Port's five-point loss to bitter foes Adelaide in another South Australian Showdown thriller on Saturday night.
Rioli had announced he would miss the Crows game before being suspended for one match by the AFL.
The goalsneak has been involved in three cases this year of threatening rival players - two during games and one, aimed at Western Bulldog Bailey Dale, on social media post-game.
Hinkley mused after Adelaide's 13.10 (89) to 12.12 (84) victory that Rioli "might have been handy tonight".
"He'll be fine," Hinkley said.
"We'll look after him, we'll make some decisions and make sure he's okay.
"Our major focus is to make sure Willie is okay and he has got our care and he always will have."
Rioli opted not to attend Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
"He had the choice ... I thought the right option for him was not to be here," Hinkley said.
"He just needed some time and I made sure he got that time.
"And we will move on and hopefully we can leave all this stuff behind us and we can get on with playing footy."
The Power, with four wins and five losses, are in 13th spot and in a logjam of clubs one win outside the top eight.
"We have had moments, quarters, halves, that we have been pretty damaging," Hinkley said of the season.
"Most teams, I think, would give us a lot of respect when they come up against us because we're capable.
"But unless you consistently do it ... you're not going to go on any run."
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