Essendon Football Club and Top Dog Management today released a press statement to clarify rumours relating to Dean Rioli. The statement read:

""There have been rumours circulating in relation to Dean Rioli and his future at Essendon Football Club that the club and his management wish to clarify. Dean is currently working through some personal family issues and has been absent from the club on occasions in the past two weeks. He will be taking further time to address these issues in the next two weeks - a decision that the club not only accepted but encouraged. The club and Dean's management ask that his privacy be respected during this time. Neither the club or manager Michael Quinlan will be commenting further on this issue.""