Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) star Willie Rioli pays tribute to Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) ahead of 100th game

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Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) star ******* Rioli pays tribute to Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) ahead of 100th game

Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) star ******* Rioli has paid an emotional tribute to his premiership teammates at Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) before he plays his 100th game back in Perth on Saturday night.

The 2018 premiership player also opened up on the difficult journey from the Tiwi Islands to the AFL, admitting he didn’t think it was possible to even play one game from the tiny community.

Rioli will play his 100th game against Walyalup (Fremantle) at Optus Stadium. It comes amid a season where he has been at the centre of an off-field threat controversy and his family’s checkered past in the sport has resurfaced after an emotionally-charged clash with his late father’s former club Hawthorn.

The 29-year-old left the Eagles in a bombshell trade that was described as then chief executive Trevor Nisbett as “bitterly disappointing”.

But he says he maintains a close relationship with his premiership teammates and wouldn’t be where he was without Waalitj Marawar.

Rioli was in Perth last year for premiership coach Adam Simpson’s farewell game.

He also shared the stirring message his father gave him when he landed at the Eagles.

“That’s a footy club I still have a lot of love (for) and still have a lot of great memories and friendships I have built along the way,” Rioli said.

“My Dad always said to me ‘son you’re a product of your environment and everywhere you go, the environment you go you learn and pick up stuff, certain ways, certain attributes, certain beliefs and morals that definitely shaped me into the person I am today.

“The people at that club I have still got a great relationship with a lot of them, a lot of my premiership teammates, I am still close with my host family over there, who come and check on me every day.

Camera IconWillie Rioli interacts with fans. Credit: Jackson Flindell/Jackson Flindell / The West Aust

“I couldn’t have been the person I am today or the player I am today if it wasn’t for that footy club.”

Rioli said playing just one game of football felt impossible as a teenager in the Northern Territory and that reaching the century was something he will “cherish for a long time”.

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“I think it means a lot, with the journey I’ve been on and the places I’ve been in my football journey,” he said.

“I think I manifested it as a young kid, but as you get older in your teens you think it’s impossible for where I’m from, it’s very unachievable.

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“For me I just dreamt of playing one game and just getting drafted was the first thing.

“To get drafted, then to play one game and all the injuries, all the setbacks I’ve had, the 100 games did look impossible at certain times in my career.

“I’m grateful for the support I’ve had a long the way in terms of people I’ve met along my football journey.

Rioli trained with Power teammates at Optus Stadium on Friday evening. Their clash with the Dockers comes with the backdrop of rising pressure on coach Ken Hinkley.

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The long-time Power boss was forced to again defend his position, with calls for the club to bring forward its planned transition to former Walyalup midfielder Josh Carr.

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