FIGHT CLUB
AFL probes brawl that left star Tigers injured
THE AFL integrity unit is conducting its own probe into Saturday night’s Melbourne nightclub brawl involving Richmond premiership stars Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton.
While Richmond has cleared the duo of any wrongdoing in a fight that left Bolton with a broken wrist, the AFL said it would “look into” the confrontation.
Rioli and Bolton were at
Club YoYo in Lonsdale St on Saturday night with a group of teammates when an unknown man made inappropriate comments to Rioli’s partner Paris Lawrence.
When Rioli confronted the patron, he was punched in the face. Bolton then stepped in and broke his wrist.
The pair have declined to press charges.
AFL spokesman Jay Allan said that because there was no police investigation pending the league would look into the matter.
Rioli trained at Punt Road on Tuesday with heavy bruising around a cut under his eye and is expected to play against Greater Western Sydney this weekend.
All parties were ushered out of the inner-city venue after the fracas, with Rioli and Bolton
reporting the incident to Richmond on Sunday.
Bolton reported a sore wrist to the Tigers and after having a scan on Monday it was revealed he needed surgery to repair a broken bone.
The Tigers have not confirmed whether Bolton injured his wrist punching someone or falling to the ground.
Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale and coach Damien
Hardwick said they were not aware of the specifics of the incident.
The AFL only assesses incidents after police have fully resolved their inquiries.
Richmond’s Mabior Chol was at the nightclub and Geelong confirmed on Tuesday midfielder Quinton Narkle and big man Esava Ratugolea were also there.