Port Adelaide's Willie Rioli reportedly threatened Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale following a scuffle on the weekend.

Power forward Rioli's threatening message directed at Dale in the aftermath of the match went unpunished by the AFL.

AFL greats Tim Watson and Garry Lyon could not quite believe that Rioli, who recently unleashed on Hawthorn, did not receive any sort of punishment for his actions.

“I’m staggered that the AFL has (not punished Rioli),” Watson said on SEN Breakfast.

“Ok, Willie Rioli reaches out to Bailey Dale and apologises, that’s fine. Everybody apologises once they’ve been caught out, that’s just standard behaviour of human beings.

“That doesn’t mean to say that it can just be swept under the carpet and there not be any form of penalty or discipline applied by the AFL.

“I am staggered that they have just allowed what they did allow yesterday to be the course of action that was taken on their behalf.

“If you say the wrong thing out there on the football field and the AFL becomes aware of it or the umpire reports it, or whatever, you are then responsible even in the heat of the moment.”

His co-host and fellow footy great Garry Lyon was also somewhat baffled by a lack of action from the league.

“This was the next day so it was a far more considered course of action,” said Lyon.

“The general public are saying why didn’t the AFL extend the lily-livered explanation about reminding both clubs to ensure any communication remain respectful, why hasn’t that been applied in the past.

“Why is this when someone is threatening violence to an opposition player that that pretty light, soft reminder to ensure communication remains respectful, why hasn’t that been afforded to other players in the past?”

Watson called for the AFL to be consistent on all matters after the Rioli non-sanction paled into comparison against some other recent suspensions received by players.

“I don’t think it washes with people in this day and age for the AFL to put out a namby-pamby type of statement like they did yesterday, which doesn’t go to the heart of what took place,” he continued.

“There needs to be a lot more explanation around why they arrived at a statement like that and there was no other course of action taken against Willie Rioli.

“If you flip the bird you’re getting a fine of $1000 or $1500. There’s no penalty that’s been applied to Willie Rioli. None. Zero.

“What people want - and it’s not too much to ask - is consistency. We just want consistency of messaging from the AFL on all matters.”

SEN's Gerard Whateley had earlier expressed the same feelings when discussing the matter on Monday night.

“A lot was said on the field, but in the cold light of day the next morning, he sends a message to a teammate of Bailey Dale which essentially says: ‘when you get to Darwin, don’t be leaving the hotel’,” Whateley said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“Which was interpreted as what it was - a threat. So, the AFL looked into this during the day, and they’ve come back with nothing. Nothing.”

Whateley added: “I don’t think the Bulldogs needed any sort of reminder (to be respectful) in this.

“As for Port Adelaide, Willie Rioli did apologise, so that’s the key part to it. Had he not apologised, then maybe we’re in different territory.

“Before you dig into the background, the prima facie is this would meet conduct unbecoming.

“I think, in a different circumstance, this is a straight-up suspension.

“If you’re sending threatening messages to a player a day after a game, you can go and sit for a while.”

HOW IT PLAYED OUT

According to channel 9 journalist and SEN regular Tom Morris, Rioli reportedly sent Dale an aggressive message to a teammate of Dale’s, stating the defender ‘should be careful about leaving his hotel’ during the side’s trip to Darwin this weekend.

While SEN's Sam Edmund and the Herald Sun's Jay Clark both reported on the matter with further information.

“I understand I’m their story lines, to create opinions for revenue.

“Someone once told me if you can’t take a hit, don’t swing.

“They won’t show the first punch, but they’ll show my slap on the chest.”

MATTER RESOLVED

Port Adelaide’s statement reads as follows:

“Port Adelaide is aware of a private message sent by Willie Rioli to a Western Bulldogs player following Saturday afternoon’s game between the two clubs.

“The matter has now been resolved privately after Willie contacted Bailey Dale from the Bulldogs.

“Port Adelaide considers the matter resolved and will not be making further comment.”

NO SANCTION

The AFL also released a statement, further confirming that no sanctions will be dealt to Rioli.

"The AFL has today spoken to both Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs and while confirming it will take no further action to that undertaken by the clubs and players, it has reminded both clubs to ensure any communications remain respectful."