Junior Rioli’s trade request has left the West Coast Eagles “bitterly disappointed” after supporting him during his two-year doping ban.
After playing a key role in the club’s 2018 premiership win, Rioli found his career at a crossroads just 12 months later when he was banned for substituting a urine sample on the eve of the 2019 finals.
Rioli returned to the field this season following the ban, but has asked out in a bid to head to South Australia, where he has family ties, and it’s a move that’s not sat well with the Eagles.
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“We could not have done any more to support Junior since his infraction in 2019,” Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We facilitated his appeal and subsequent return to football, so this decision is bitterly disappointing.
“We will put that disappointment to one side now and work to arrange a suitable trade for a player who has high end talent, is a premiership player and is in the prime of his career, having played just 51 games of senior football.
“Junior has made his decision and while he has indicated Port is his preferred destination we will work to get the best outcome for our club.”
Rioli spoke of his desire to end up at Port Adelaide after being spotted in South Australia just over a week ago, where he met with 2004 Port premiership player Shaun Burgoyne.
Rioli hopeful of Port Adelaide move
“Hopefully (see myself at Port next year), we’ll see how it goes,” he told 9News Adelaide.
“I’ll see if my manager can look after me and work out a good thing. I don’t understand all of that, I’m not into the politics side of footy.
“If I could set myself up for the rest of my life, that’s all I want to do. Definitely (a big decision for the family). I’ve been through too much in the last 18 months so I just want to make the most of being in the industry I am now.”
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