Luke Beveridge has come to the defence of his team following comments from Port Adelaide chairman David Koch, who suggested that Bulldogs players had provoked Willie Rioli into sending a threatening message after a recent match. Rioli received a one-match suspension after he directed the message at Bailey Dale, a defender for the Bulldogs, following Port Adelaide’s substantial 90-point defeat in round eight.
Initially, it seemed Rioli would avoid disciplinary action, but subsequent revelations involving players from Essendon and Geelong led to the suspension. Despite the fallout, Beveridge claims all parties had “moved on” from the incident, although Koch has alleged that Rioli’s actions were triggered by comments deemed to be “culturally disrespectful.” In a statement to FIVEAA radio, Koch suggested that these comments related to Rioli’s background and community, indicating it may have contributed to Rioli’s frustrations, although he admits that this does not excuse the private message.
Beveridge strongly refuted Koch’s claims, asserting that the Bulldogs players were not engaging in culturally insensitive behaviour. He expressed surprise at Koch’s insinuation and defended the high character of his club and its members, stating unequivocally, “we’d never disrespect First Nations people in our language or our actions.” Beveridge also reiterated that while Rioli had made a mistake, there should be no justification for his actions, questioning whether Koch’s comments would hinder Rioli’s learning process from the incident.
Beveridge acknowledged that while players often engage in banter during games, the Bulldogs would never cross the line into cultural insensitivity. He confirmed that the club would not seek an apology from Koch but stated that his remarks would not be overlooked. Furthermore, he defended Bailey Dale’s character, stating: “Bailey Dale, who wouldn’t agitate a milkshake… he’s not an adversarial.”
The coach expressed disbelief that Koch would bring this narrative up after time had passed, suggesting it could be because Rioli is returning to play against Geelong, while the Bulldogs face Essendon on the same evening. As the situation unfolds, negligence around cultural sensitivity and player conduct continues to draw scrutiny within the sporting community.