Rioli remained on West Coast’s list after he was suspended for two seasons late in 2019due to a breach of the anti-doping code for substituting a urine sample after being a key player in the Eagles’ 2018 premiership while still a rookie.
He returned to senior football in 2022 and reached the 50-game milestone in round 21 against Adelaide.
He remained unsigned until late in the season as he returned home to Darwin to mourn the death of his father.
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Port Adelaide then made a play for him and North Melbourne spoke to him before the Eagles made a late bid to retain him,offering Rioli a three-year deal with a trigger. However,after meeting with Port Adelaide last week he decided to move.
The view of Eagles’ CEO Trevor Nisbett was clear when the club released a statement after being informed,referring to West Coast’s support of Rioli since his anti-doping violation.
“We could not have done any more to support Junior since his infraction in 2019,” Nisbett said. “We facilitated his appeal and subsequent return to football,so this decision is bitterly disappointing.”