AFL 2025: Geelong star Tyson Stengle does not expect teammates to engage with Port Adelaide’s Willie Rioli

Geelong star Tyson Stengle is backing his teammates to not sledge Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli when the Cats and Power meet this Saturday. Rioli sat out Port Adelaide’s narrow Showdown loss after he was found to have threatened several opponents across the past 12 months. One of those incidents occurred against Geelong when Rioli had a fiery encounter with Cat Brad Close last season. The interaction prompted an uncharacteristically aggravated response from laconic spearhead Jeremy Cameron. But Stengle doesn’t expect any ill will between the two sides on Saturday and hopes to see Rioli back playing. “I hope that he’s out there, he’s a great player, so hopefully he can get out there and play some good footy this week. It will be great to see him play,” Stengle said. “I don’t really know the situation … I don’t think they will (engage with Rioli), I think they’ll want him to be playing this week. “He’s one of their better players, so it would be great to see him out there.” Stengle’s stance follows Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley last week expressing doubt any opposition players “would go there” with Rioli. “I would doubt anyone would go there with the stance the AFL has put in place around comments said on the field, I just don’t think you would go there,” Hinkley said. “Willie will get our support like he always has and Willie also has to learn. “He knows that and he has publicly said that, he has to get better.” Geelong, which also narrowly lost at the weekend, could drift out of the top eight if it doesn’t beat the Power.