West Coast outlined considerable frustrations in the wake of Junior Rioli’s decision to request a trade to Port Adelaide, and Tim Watson believes their disappointment is justified.
The Eagles supported Rioli across his multi-year ASADA ban for tampering with a urine test, keeping him in the fold and welcoming him back in when the ban was lifted.
The small forward mentioned in an interview last week that his decision to move for a longer term and larger contract was in order to provide greater support for his family.
Eagles chief Trevor Nisbett spoke of the club’s disappointment.
“We could not have done any more to support Junior since his infraction in 2019,” Nisbett said.
“We will put that disappointment to one side now and work to arrange a suitable trade for a player who has high end talent, is a premiership player and is in the prime of his career, having played just 51 games of senior football.
“Junior has made his decision and while he has indicated Port is his preferred destination we will work to get the best outcome for our club.”
Watson feels in this instance, the departing player did in fact owe the club.
“I feel that their bitterness and frustration is justified in this situation given what happened and the fact that he had to stay out of football for a long period of time, they’ve supported him, they’ve paid him through that period of time,” the former Essendon captain told SEN Breakfast.
“I think at some point in time in life, you’ve got to make decisions not about pocket and money and those sorts of things, you’ve got to make decisions based upon integrity and the way that you have been handled and served by an organisation.
“I think there is an element of him owing the West Coast Eagles in all of this.”
Rioli played SANFL with Glenelg before being drafted by the Eagles.