Port Adelaide star Willie Rioli has taken aim at Hawthorn in a since-deleted social media post in which he declared his hatred for the club. Meanwhile, Hawk Dylan Moore admitted Hawthorn failed to perform on the big stage on Sunday night.
Port Adelaide star Willie Rioli has taken aim at Hawthorn in a since-deleted social media post in which he declared his hatred for the club. Meanwhile, Hawk Dylan Moore admitted Hawthorn failed to perform on the big stage on Sunday night.
By Sam McClure and Peter Ryan
April 14, 2025 — 12.48pm
In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:
- Port Adelaide star Willie Rioli has taken aim at Hawthorn in a since-deleted social media post in which he declared his hatred for the club.
- All-Australian forward Dylan Moore admitted Hawthorn failed to perform on the big stage and were feeling “a little bit of embarrassment” after their first-half capitulation to Port Adelaide.
Rioli takes aim at Hawthorn in social media post
Sam McClure
Port Adelaide star Willie Rioli has taken aim at Hawthorn in a since-deleted social media post in which he declared his hatred for the club.
Rioli took to Instagram on Monday morning, following Sunday night’s 30-point win over the Hawks, according to a report from Channel Nine, posting a video of his fourth-quarter goal to his Instagram stories with a caption.
He said his negative feelings about Hawthorn went beyond the drama that unfolded after last year’s semi-final, when Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley clashed with Hawks James Sicily and Jack Ginnivan over a taunt.
“Play with fire, your gonna get burnt, my hatred for this club goes way pass last year antics, what they did to my dad, and my brother, is why I can’t stand them, not the players #Cococlub, [sic]” the post read.
According to the report, Rioli’s post has since been deleted.
Port Adelaide, Hawthorn and the AFL have been contacted for comment.
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‘We talked a big game’: Moore rues Hawks’ failure on big stage
Peter Ryan
All-Australian forward Dylan Moore admitted Hawthorn failed to perform on the big stage and were feeling “a little bit of embarrassment” after their first-half capitulation to Port Adelaide in what was billed as the showcase game of Gather Round.
The disappointed Hawk said his team wasn’t tough enough around the ball, losing contest after contest to fall 71 points behind late in the second quarter. The Hawks rallied to be just 22 points down with eight minutes remaining in the match before Port Adelaide steadied.
Moore, who battled hard for 22 touches, said there were plenty of lessons for the team in their first loss of the season.
“We’re very disappointed. I mean everyone was talking about this game. We talked a big game and we didn’t step up in the moments,” Moore said.
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The Hawks’ approach has been refreshing with their attacking style of football and sometimes brash demeanour thrilling their fans. The hard-working Moore had no doubt the team was better than it had performed.
“There is a little bit of embarrassment that we are told we are built for the big stage and we’re telling everyone we are built for the big stage and in the main event for the weekend that everyone has been talking about and we didn’t show up and they did. Credit to them. They showed up when it mattered,” Moore said.
The match was promoted on the back of the team’s newfound rivalry, built on the back of Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley’s post-game taunting of Hawthorn forward Jack Ginnivan after last year’s semi-final.
However, the contest was over when Hawthorn trailed by 59 points at half-time after kicking the final two goals of the half. They only managed four inside-50s in the second quarter as Port Adelaide piled on six goals.
“If you look at the big picture we are 4-1 … tonight we didn’t show up but we know we are better than that performance and, how good, next week, Easter Monday, the biggest clash of the weekend again,” Moore said.
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Sam McClure is an award-winning AFL journalist and broadcaster.Connect via Twitter or email.
Peter Ryan is a sports reporter with The Age.Connect via Twitter or email.
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