Troubled Eagles star facing sack

WEST Coast forward Willie Rioli’s AFL career is hanging by a thread as the Eagles consider sacking the wayward star after his latest cannabis issue.

Rioli will face court today after being caught with 25 grams of cannabis in his possession at Darwin Airport on his way back to the Tiwi Islands on April 23.

West Coast admitted Rioli, a member of the famous football family, was “a mess” after he was caught by a drug detection dog.

While he will hope to escape conviction on that offence, the Eagles have all but run out of patience with Rioli after three cannabis-related charges led to his backdated two-year ASADA ban.

The Eagles board will ultimately decide whether he returns, but the Mercury understands the club is well aware of its previous drug history which it has worked so hard to successfully eradicate.

West Coast football boss Craig Vozzo admitted Rioli had a drug issue regarding cannabis, having twice attempted to tamper with urine samples and also testing positive with cannabis in a third ASADA charge.

Eagle football boss Craig Vozzo admitted the club had to decide whether Rioli, recently recontracted until the end of 2022, would be sacked.

“It’s definitely in that category,” Vozzo said.

“We need to deal with the facts and the outcome from a legal process point of view.

“We need to find out where that lands, exactly what’s involved and what the court determines before we make a decision. It’s a very fine line that he’s run with these allegations for sure.

“We won’t be making anything in a rushed way. We’ll be doing it in a calm way once we know all the information, including the decision of the court and Willie’s version of the events.”

The AFL, Sports Integrity Australia, the AFL Players’ Association and the players will be consulted on Rioli’s future.

Rioli was due to return to West Coast training on June 20 and be available for selection in the last round of the season.

Having tested positive to cannabis in 2019 and been banned for two years for twice substituting urine, Vozzo said Rioli had lost the club’s trust.

“When this happens it really questions the degree to which you can trust him,” he said.

Eagles forward Willie Rioli.