Daniel to bring his new love to the NT
TWO of the biggest names of the AFL – Rioli and Fevola – have joined forces, but not in the way many would expect.
Richmond rising star Daniel Rioli has fallen in love with Mia Fevola and they have been dating for eight months.
Daniel is the nephew of Territory greats Maurice and Dean, and cousin to Cyril and Willie Rioli as well as legend Michael Long, while Mia is the daughter of Coleman medallist Brendan.
Their connection was almost instant after meeting through a mutual friend and they have grown close quickly. They now live together with the rest of the Fevola family – Brendan, mum Alex and sisters Leni and Lulu.
“We’ve clicked so much, we understand each other,” Mia, 18, says.
Daniel, 21, adds, “I just love how we have fun and be ourselves around each other.
“She’s already figured me out, she’s taught me a few things. “I’m lucky to have her.” While many AFL couples enjoy attending A-list events, the couple have remained low-key and are content spending quiet time together.
“We’re not really going out kind of people, we don’t really drink or anything.
“We like brunching and that kind of thing,” Mia says. “It’s hard when you’re out because people are always watching, especially with you (Daniel) everyone is watching when we walk through shopping centres.
“It’s hard because you have to act mature and not do anything silly, but when we’re together we obviously have a lot more fun and can be ourselves.”
Daniel’s teenage years were unlike most, moving from his home in the Tiwi Islands at the age of 14 to Ballarat, where he earned a football scholarship at St Patrick’s College.
He took inspiration from his trailblazing uncles and cousins, and the advice of his mum, and made the most of the experience.
“Mum and Dad told me to just go because Cyril (Rioli) went to Scotch (College) by himself,” he says.
“Mum was like, ‘If you want to play AFL, you need to get away from home and try and follow in Cyril’s footsteps and hopefully pursue your dream’.”
Daniel has headed home to the Tiwi Islands to spend time with his family during the off-season and then will take Mia back to Darwin in January to meet them all.
“I’ve never been, it looks beautiful,” Mia says.
“Some of his family came down for the finals period and I saw them at games, but I’m looking forward to seeing Daniel’s home and meeting more of his family.”
Daniel relishes his visits home, where he is “just Daniel” and can soak up the sun, fish and enjoy relaxing time with extended family.
“Being an AFL player (in Melbourne), everyone swarms you and wants a photo, but back home it’s completely different – everyone knows me as Daniel, not the footy player,” he says.
“It’s so low-key, everyone is so close and they don’t treat me like a footy player. I get home and I’m just Daniel. I don’t stress at all when I get home, it’s pretty chill.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to, doing a lot of fishing and chasing the sun.”