'Pretty embarrassing' AFL silence condemned as Willie Rioli withdraws himself from Showdown

AFL legend Matthew Lloyd says it has been an "embarrassing" week for the league as it reportedly ponders a sanction for Port Adelaide player Willie Rioli.

It's since been reported Rioli has withdrawn himself from this weekend's Adelaide Showdown.

The small forward is at the centre of a scandal after sending a Western Bulldogs player a threatening message about Bailey Dale over the weekend.

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Rioli and Dale had tangled during a game on Saturday, and the former then sent a message warning Dale not to leave his hotel in Darwin this coming weekend given Rioli has friends and family in the city.

The message was seen as a threat to Dale's safety.

It has since emerged allegations were previously made about Rioli by Essendon and Geelong regarding his behaviour towards opponents.

The AFL on Monday issued a memo to clubs and players urging "communications to remain respectful", but that was before the other allegations about Rioli were aired.

The league has been silent on the issue since and Lloyd is not impressed by the way it has been handled.

"It hasn't been a great week for the AFL, where players are getting sanctioned for flipping the bird... yet a player can send threatening messages to another player about what he may do to him in Darwin, or some of his friends may do in Darwin, yet he just gets a slap on the wrist saying don't do that again," Lloyd told Nine's Today on Thursday.

"Now reports have come out that it's not the first time Willy has done this... so pretty embarrassing for the AFL.

"I just wonder if the AFL might look to stand him down this week. He's been named to play this week, so at this stage he's playing. But it's been a poor week from the AFL the way they've handled it."

The Power face the Crows in the Adelaide Showdown on Saturday night.

Rioli was named to play for Port Adelaide but reportedly pulled out on Thursday.

Lloyd is still unsure how to separate fact from fiction about the saga.

"There's a bit of mixed messaging," he said.

"Some people are saying the AFL didn't know about the previous (allegations), and that's why they've given him a slap on the wrist. But other journalists in the industry have said no, there were reports come in from footy bosses at Geelong and Essendon that have told the AFL that.

"I'm not sure where the truth lies, but a lot of pressure being put on the AFL and Port Adelaide that Willie Rioli shouldn't be playing this weekend, and that's how I feel about it too with his behaviour."