Willie Rioli is back at Port Adelaide training and will play against Sydney this weekend, following a short break in the wake of online racist attacks.

Rioli was allowed leave from the club on Tuesday after posting, and deleting, separate social media posts following the Power's 30-point win over Hawthorn to close out Gather Round.

The 2018 premiership player shared a string of racist, homophobic and broader vilifying messages he received from social media users on Monday afternoon.

In an earlier post, Rioli aired his personal "hatred" for the Hawks, later clarified by Port as stemming from "deep-seated pain and sadness from past family experiences" via a club statement.

The AFL Players Association and Power backed Rioli in statements on Monday evening.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Port coach Ken Hinkley labelled the online attacks a "disgrace", and an all too common occurrence endured by the gun small forward.

"It's a disgrace - the racism that still goes on in our world…the way we talk about lots of things in society, and yet that is still tolerated and still allowed to go on, there almost should be a law that makes people accountable," he said.

"I think it's an absolute disgrace."

"This doesn't just happen against Hawthorn. The thing we've got to understand is that this happens to Willie Rioli more than any other person that I've been involved with - that he cops that type of abuse."

Hinkley confirmed Rioli returned to the club on Wednesday, and would feature in the Power's second 2024 finals rematch in as many weeks against the Swans at the SCG on Sunday.

"Willie's okay, and that's really important," the coach said.

Hinkley added it was a sad reality Rioli was moved to delete his social media accounts in recent days.

Speaking on Footy Classified Monday night, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said he hoped he and Rioli could have a conversation at an appropriate time, which would be kept private.

Earlier on Wednesday teammate Jason Horne-Francis told TripleM Adelaide on Wednesday Rioli and the playing group had been in contact with messages of support as the goalsneak deals with off-field matters.

"He's going, well, he's got a lot of support around him. We all support him. We love him at the club," Horne-Francis said on Wednesday morning.

"He's a great personality, brings a lot of energy to the group. I'm sure he'll be back today, and he'll be ready to go by Sunday."

Horne-Francis also called for an end to vilification from social media users towards players, calling on the behaviour to be stamped out from the AFL landscape, the Wardaman man added.

The Hawks-Port rivalry has become one of the AFL's latest meetings with extra feeling following the South Australian club's narrow semi final win last September, and post-match actions from coach Ken Hinkley, to end Hawthorn's steamrolling run of form.

Horne-Francis said: "I love the rivalry…and I love the big games."

"I probably played it up a little bit more than I probably should have in my head, but I think that's just what got me up.

"Personally, that's what got me up for the game…I can't speak on behalf of anyone else, but definitely for me, I kind of built it up a little bit."

Sydney advanced into last year's grand final with a 36-point prelim win over the Power.

In their previous contest, Port put on 10 goals without answer towards lodging a 112-point win over the minor premiers in round 21.

Sydney host Port at the SCG on Sunday afternoon.