With Junior Rioli declaring his intentions to join Port Adelaide, the question now revolves around what the Power will have to give up to secure his services.
Rioli told 9 News Adelaide on Monday night that he would “hopefully” be able to come to Alberton for the 2023 season despite his management insisting no call had been made on his future.
After serving a two-year drug-related ban, Rioli returned to West Coast in 2022. As a number of the club’s forwards did, he largely struggled and managed just 14 goals from 13 games.
West Coast's Junior Rioli has tonight told #9News he wants to be at Port Adelaide next season. @coreynorris9 pic.twitter.com/BkY5GmXnJy
— 9News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) September 5, 2022
West Coast stuck by Rioli during the ban and 7News' Ryan Daniels has reported the club is disappointed he’s considering the offer from Port.
However, Rioli’s former coach at South Fremantle and former Dockers star Paul Hasleby believes the 27-year-old is within his rights to investigate a trade.
“He’s a star, I can’t deny that. When they lost him (to the ban), I think that really cost them another premiership at the end of 2019, but he hasn’t been in the best of form,” he told SEN SA’s The Run Home.
“A lot of people over here are saying it’s a dog act if he leaves West Coast because of what they’ve done, they’ve supported him for two years, but I don’t necessarily subscribe to that theory.
“I think the kid has got to do what’s best for him, his family. Of course there’s a financial element, but more so the happiness element, he will play his best footy in the best environment when he’s creative and free, and that could be at Port Adelaide.
“Albeit, it does come with a few little risks given his lifestyle in the past.”
Rioli has already undergone a medical at Port and is also understood to have met with several club figures, including Ken Hinkley.
Hasleby was also questioned on what the Power would have to give up for Rioli, both salary cap and trade-wise.
“I would say, given what’s happened, I think you could get him a little bit cheaper. I think he’d be (approximately) $500,000 (per year)... from a financial perspective,” the 208-game Docker replied.
“The pick will be interesting. He is 27, he didn’t have the greatest year in terms of impact on games and also his goal number wasn’t fantastic.
“I’d say (Pick) 25-35 would probably get a deal done.”
SEN SA The Run Home co-host Michelangelo Rucci added: “that’s the Karl Amon compensation pick that Port Adelaide will get from the AFL, that can go straight to West Coast and Junior Rioli can come to Alberton.”
The club’s interest in Rioli comes after Robbie Gray’s retirement at the end of the 2022 season. Orazio Fantasia also failed to get on the park this year in a further hit to the small forward stocks.
Port have also reportedly tabled a lucrative offer to Western Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley, who is currently assessing his options.