The AFL world went into meltdown on Thursday with news filtering through about the West Coast Eagles’ livewire forward Willie Rioli being flagged by ASADA for urine substitution.
At this point it is all speculation as to what has actually happened, as the AFL and ASADA will continue to investigate over the coming days.
While the AFL media circus will be running rampant over the next few days to find out just what happened, the West Coast Eagles still have a job at hand, which is Friday night under lights at the MCG in a do-or-die clash against minor premiers, the Geelong Cats.
West Coast’s GM of football Craig Vozzo told journalists that Rioli is a well liked and respected member of the Eagles’ playing group, who were emotional upon hearing their team-mate has been provisionally suspended for Friday night’s final.
(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
While this will be seen as a massive distraction for the 22 selected to play on Friday night, the team will be ready to go come the first bounce.
The Eagles have matured a lot in the past 18 months. They’re littered with premiership players. Ten of the 22 are fathers and the average number of games played by the team is 125.
Their form is peaking at the right time of the year. Despite a slow start, they reeled off 12 wins from 14 games before losing their last two games of the regular season against Richmond and Hawthorn.
The Hawthorn loss was inexcusable with a top-four spot on the line but the loss to Richmond was a contender for the best home-and-away game of 2019 and could have gone either way.
In their elimination final against Essendon last Thursday night, the Eagles piled on 31 scoring shots and 116 points, which was one of the best four-quarter performances we have seen from West Coast in season 2019.
The inclusion of Nic Naitanui, who has only played four games this year, has helped them find their mojo. He is crucial to the Eagles. Despite only playing a tick over 50 per cent of the game, he contributed massively to the Eagles kicking seven goals directly from centre bounces – an AFL finals record.
He makes everyone walk a little bit taller, and more importantly, gives the midfielders first use of the footy.
The MCG no longer holds any fears for them, and if they have any ambition to go back-to-back, they will need to win three in a row at the MCG – all against very good competition.
Now that the Eagles have plenty of finals experience, and more importantly, experience of winning a big final at the MCG, the sky is the limit for this group.
Thursday was a massive shock for everyone involved, but with form on the Eagles’ side and the maturity of their senior players, coach Adam Simpson will have the 22 ready to go for bounce down, momentarily forgetting about the dilemma Rioli faces.
Sean Farrelly
Roar Rookie
Re Liam Ryan: I've always suspected that the AFL octopus has one tentacle around the neck of the WA Police. Time to name names.
Matt Bryder
Guest
Yeah great read
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
wegles are done and dusted 2019 plain simple they shouldve beaten the handbags cats,
David C
Roar Rookie
Got that one wrong didn't ya.
Realist
Guest
You haven't watched it dbjm have you? You can't lie about something that is on video. Twice Rioli went to Gawn when lay winded on the ground, pushed him and mouthed off!! Crap Bloke....shows very poor character and has now been cleaned up by the Karma Bus! :laughing:
Jack A
Guest
Are you saying that there is NO corruption and biases in the police force, media, afl and politics?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
It’s nothing to do with that. He attempted to falsify a sample so is cooked regardless
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
It’s no doubt Eddie. He has a long reach
Johnno
Guest
Jack A....are you saying there is collusion between the WA courts & the AFL?
Kane
Roar Rookie
I believe this will make tonight's game even more interesting, wouldn't be surprised if the Eagles win by 10 goals tonight. Look forward to watching it.
dbjm
Roar Rookie
Go back and watch it again Realist and get your facts straight. Vardy was the one who shoved Gawn in the ground after the Ryan mark (pathetic act). Rioli was the one who went to all the Collingwood players and consoled them after the grand final last year. Showed great sportsmanship. Which makes this all the more baffling.
RT
Roar Rookie
Already worse than the Essendon supporters were.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Lift your game, I Ate Pies. You must be feeling more liverish than usual. I suppose having your team beaten by a bunch of crap players would make your team what? And as usual you know nothing more than the rest of us but that never stops you from pontificating as usual, or spouting gibberish
EaglesMan
Roar Rookie
Makes no difference he is out he has to sit out till the investigation is complete.
EaglesMan
Roar Rookie
What things coming out? We all know about the dark days of Ben Cousins, Kerr and those idiots. What has the club done wrong since? If Rioli made an error he pays the price
Punter
Roar Rookie
in 4 years time you can all stand up at Optus and give him massive applause when he returns to the game.
Big AL
Roar Rookie
hahahaha, sounds like a Shane Warne excuse. There was actually no suggestion the sample had any trace of drugs but tampering with a sample in any way is seen as cheating the system and should rightly be dealt with harshly. There is also talk of why would he do it noting a positive sample would only act as a strike with no real implications....except of course unless this was going to be strike number 3!!
Big AL
Roar Rookie
Come on Jack, please spare me the conspiracy theories. If your views are right then the experts clearly dont think the Eagles will progress past this week which is why they have decided to bring it out now. The more interesting point is why is it always the Eagles that have these things come out??
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
All these conspiracy theories and 'poor us everyone's out to get us' mentality are juvenile reactions.
IAP
Guest
There's no dowt in my mind that teh VFL is out to get West Coast it wouldn't saprise me if they sent a body double in to sabataje poor Willie thats how low they stoop to stop our grate club and state everyone is out to get us becoz were in WA and their jalous of WA becoz were awsum poor willie has dun nuffin rong! go they mity Eagles!