Maurice Rioli refuses to talk to Richmond Tigers coaching staff after being taken off vs West Coast

Caretaker coach Andrew McQualter says he will look into an incident in which Maurice Rioli refused to take a phone call from the coaching staff during Richmond’s 38-point win over West Coast.

Rioli was grumpily slumped on the bench after being subbed off in the last quarter when a Richmond staff member attempted to hand him the phone that has a direct line to the coaching box.

When Rioli didn’t react, another staff member seated on the other side of him tapped him on the shoulder to make sure he knew the phone was being handed to him.

Rioli, who tallied just six disposals for the match, continued to glare straight ahead in frustration before snubbing the phone with a wave of his hand.

Two members of the Tigers staff tried to convince Rioli to speak to coaches on the phone when he was substituted, but the star was having none of it 

The 20-year-old angrily brushed off their attempts with a dismissive wave of his hand on Sunday as he refused to make eye contact 

McQualter wasn’t the coach on the phone at the time, and said he didn’t want to comment too much on the incident before looking into it.

‘The reality is I’ve been subbed off before and it’s not a nice feeling,’ McQualter said.

‘I understand – young kid, he’s trying to make his way. I understand if he was disappointed. So he’ll be OK.

‘I’m not exactly sure how it played out at that time. So whatever happened, we’ll deal with it when we need to.

‘I’ll probably just wait until I understand the situation fully before I comment on it any further.’

The Tigers set up the 14.14 (98) to 8.12 (60) win on Sunday with a six-goal blitz spread either side of half-time.

Although 11th-placed Richmond (8-1-8) failed to give their percentage a huge boost, they are now just half a win adrift of the sixth-placed St Kilda, seventh-placed Western Bulldogs, and eighth-placed Essendon.

Rioli (pictured right as he celebrated a goal with his teammates in Perth) only had six disposals for the match when he was dragged from the field

Shai Bolton finished with 2.4 from 23 disposals against West Coast, while veteran Dustin Martin tallied 23 possessions, four clearances and 2.2 in a lively display.

Martin could be in trouble for an off-the-ball elbow to the midriff of Eagles defender Alex Witherden, but the incident is more likely to attract a fine rather than suspension.

‘We don’t want any of those actions to cost us off the ball, because ultimately it hurts the team,’ McQualter said.

‘I’m not sure there’s anything too much further in it, is there? So hopefully it doesn’t happen again.’

West Coast veteran Andrew Gaff came on as the sub in the first quarter when Reuben Ginbey succumbed to a hamstring injury.

The young Tiger struggled to make any impact – and coach Andrew McQualter will be looking into his angry reaction to being substituted 

Gaff, who tallied just six disposals against Brisbane last week, finished with 24 possessions in a much improved display.

Forward Oscar Allen kicked three goals after overcoming a wrist injury scare in the second quarter.

Eagles forward Jack Darling kicked his 500th career goal late in the third term, sparking a huge cheer among the 40,501 fans in attendance.

‘He probably goes down as one of our greats … and he’s still got some footy left in him,’ Eagles coach Adam Simpson said of Darling, who finished with 1.3 and seven marks from 16 disposals.