Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has labelled racial abuse directed at Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli a 'societal ill', after the 28-year-old received a swarth of racist online attacks following the Power's loss to Collingwood on Sunday.

Rioli was targeted with the abuse for his strike on Magpie's defender Nathan Murphy.

A screenshot posted online by Rioli revealed the threats, racial and homophobic slurs from a number of users, including one appearing to be sent from the account of a small business.

Port, Collingwood and the AFL quickly condemned the behaviour, with Power chief executive Matthew Richardson calling it "reprehensible".

"Nothing makes it ok," Mr Richardson said.

"Regardless of what happens in a game of football, nothing makes it ok."

"Racism has no place in our game and indeed no place in our community," he explained.

"The football club is supporting the AFL and Collingwood in investigating this matter. The reality is, it was a fantastic game of football and this issue just taints that.

"We have to be better as a society and as a community and we'll do whatever we can with our platform to call out this reprehensible behaviour.

"We'll continue to support Willie and all our First Nations players and their families at this time."

On return from Adelaide, Collingwood coach Craig McRae delivered a personal message to Rioli in response to the attacks.

"If you're out there mate, we apologise and I'd love to put my arms around him and say it's just not okay," McRae said.

The matter has been referred to the league's Integrity Unit for investigation.

Earlier in 2023, a number of First Nations players were subjected to a string of attacks from fans both online and in the stands.

AFL general manager of inclusion and social policy later announced lifetime bans from attending games for individuals found guilty of the behaviour.

Online abuse remains a complex issue to address per legal restrictions and anonymity it affords abusers.

On Monday, Commissioner Inman Grant reiterated the difficulties presented while denouncing the ongoing trend to players, members of the public and children alike.

The Commission has worked with the AFL since 2019.

"This is complex human behaviour and societal ills. So as an online safety regulator, we can't necessarily target that," she told Channel Seven.

"But working with the AFL, we can let people know that this isn't okay, societally. We're actually the only country in the world that has an adult cyber abuse scheme like this. So you cannot do this with total impunity."

Ms Inman Grant encouraged any victims of online abuse to report the incidents to esafety.gov.au.

Roili's subjection to vilification came after a taxing fortnight, only compounded by a sanction issued for his hit on Murphy.

The former Eagle returned to his birth name after travelling home to the Tiwi Islands to complete traditional grieving custom after his father's death 12 months ago.

On Sunday Rioli was slapped with a two-match ban for his strike with the AFL's match review office deeming the hit intentional, high contact and medium impact.

Willie Rioli has been given a two-match suspension for striking.

Full MRO findings: https://t.co/fowJpE8VBP pic.twitter.com/J3aRlTwojW

— AFL (@AFL) July 23, 2023

Following their close loss in the top-two clash, Port coach Ken Hinkley played down the incident.

"Nothing in it, surely, I looked at it," Hinkley said.

"It is a hand slipping up, an open hand.

"I always say (the MRO) will take care of it and if it needs to be looked at they will.

"But I have seen that one … I've seen a lot worse."

The club said they will consider contesting the sanction handed to Rioli.