After a foot injury delayed his start to 2019, Willie Rioli flirted with fantasy relevancy with four startable scores out of his last six, before a suspension for tampering with a urine sample put him out of footy for an indefinite period. His good days come not necessarily with big bags of goals, but getting more involved in general play to get leather or fabric in hand. All indications are that Rioli is going to start season 2020 with the suspension still hanging over his head, which means he is unlikely to go drafted in your league. It's worth having a look at him as a very late speculator, nonetheless, as his ceiling appears to be startable. But you'd probably drop him soon anyway, so maybe that's a bit too cute.
This Willie ain't free
After a foot injury delayed his start to 2019, Willie Rioli flirted with fantasy relevancy with four startable scores out of his last six, before a suspension for tampering with a urine sample put him out of footy for an indefinite period. His good days come not necessarily with big bags of goals, but getting more involved in general play to get leather or fabric in hand. All indications are that Rioli is going to start season 2020 with the suspension still hanging over his head, which means he is unlikely to go drafted in your league. It's worth having a look at him as a very late speculator, nonetheless, as his ceiling appears to be startable. But you'd probably drop him soon anyway, so maybe that's a bit too cute.
Draft a Rioli, win a flag
One of the success stories of the Eagles premiership, Willie Rioli went goalless six times out of 24 appearances including one major in each final, with most of his attempts coming at very close range. He averaged 11 touches in compiling a scoreboard total of 25.11. Rioli's role starts very deep and doesn't involve much in the way of accumulation, as whenever he gets involved it's supposed to be in a scoring chain. This makes him a fine role player on his team and a joy to watch, without exciting interest from fantasy coaches.
Willie or won't he?
Hamstring injuries restricted Willie Rioli to eight games at lower levels last season, half in the WAFL reserves. He kicked two and three goals per game at rates of 12 and 14 disposals respectively, Rioli may be a mature-aged recruit, but his role is too deep to be of much interest for fantasy purposes even if he builds enough fitness to eventually take a place in the senior side.
