'Hasn't seemed himself': AFL legend urges Port star to 'take some time away' amid message scandal

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has questioned whether Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli needs some time away from the game.

Lloyd's comments come after Rioli's behaviour both on and off the field concerning an incident with Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale.

Rioli sent a hostile text message to a teammate of Dale's after the Power's 80-point defeat by the Bulldogs in Ballarat on Saturday.

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According to The Age, the message sent by the 29-year-old Rioli threatened Dale ahead of the Bulldogs' trip to Darwin to face the Gold Coast Suns at TIO Stadium this Saturday.

Rioli allegedly warned Dale to "be careful" if he is to leave his hotel room.

Rioli was fined $1000 for striking by match review officer Michael Christian after fending off Dale behind play in the third quarter of the match. The pair had verbally gone at it all game before the specific exchange.

Speaking on Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night, Lloyd suggested Rioli, who also recently lashed out at Hawthorn on social media, could benefit from a break from the game.

"I've watched Willie Rioli — he's played angry this year. He just hasn't seemed himself," he said.

"We saw the outburst with the Hawthorn situation, and we've seen an outburst here.

"You just wonder if he needs some time away from the game."

Leading AFL journalist Damien Barrett also provided more details on the Rioli-Dale drama, suggesting that Rioli was "provoked".

"There were certainly some words directed at Willie Rioli from the Bulldogs of a nature that riled him," he said.

"Clubs are targeting him in terms of just knowing they can get under his skin and into his head.

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"That is happening and did happen from the Bulldogs on the weekend."

Nine's chief AFL reporter Tom Morris has since revealed that Rioli threatened another opposition player earlier this season.

"This is not an isolated incident for Willie Rioli to threaten an opposition player in this manner," he wrote on X.

"He did so mid-match earlier this season. Plenty gets said on the field, but what he said left opponents stunned at the time and unsurprised when yesterday unfolded."

A statement from the AFL seemingly put the incident to bed, with the league leaving the matter with both clubs to settle privately.

"The AFL has today spoken to both Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs and while confirming it will take no further action on that undertaken by the clubs and players, it has reminded both clubs to ensure any communications remain respectful," the statement read.

Rioli contacted Dale to apologise and it is understood that Dale was accepting.

Port Adelaide stated that it would not sanction Rioli.

"Port Adelaide is aware of a private message sent by Willie Rioli to a Western Bulldogs player following Saturday afternoon's game between the two clubs," the club's statement read.

"The matter has now been resolved privately after Willie contacted Bailey Dale from the Bulldogs.

"Port Adelaide considers the matter resolved and will not be making further comment."

Following news of his fine, Rioli explained his view of what happened before he made contact with Dale in an Instagram story posted to his account.

"Someone once told me if ya can't take a hit, don't swing it," he captioned a replay of the incident with Dale.

"They won't show the first punch but they'll show my slap on the chest tho (sic)."

In a second post, Rioli added: "But I understand I'm (their) storylines, to create opinions (and) for revenue."

Rioli previously made headlines with another controversial Instagram post where he expressed his "hatred" of Hawthorn following his side's Gather Round victory last month.

Rioli took a day of personal leave following that post, after he was subjected to racial abuse online.