Tigers set for new dose of Rioli magic, and he could be best yet
AS one Rioli returns to the Northern Territory in Richmond colours, another is edging closer to following in his trailblazing father’s footsteps with the Tigers.
Maurice Rioli Jr – the son of the late Richmond and South Fremantle champion Maurice Rioli Sr, and cousin of current
Tiger Daniel Rioli – is generating hype among recruiters after starring for AFLNT club St Mary’s over summer.
Essendon and the Tigers, who face off in Darwin on Saturday night, both have priority access to Maurice Jr in this year’s draft – the Bombers via their Next Generation Academy and Richmond as a fatherson pick. Fremantle also can take him as a father-son choice.
But the 175cm small forward, who boards at Melbourne’s Scotch College and is aligned to NAB League side Oakleigh Chargers, favours a move to Richmond. His dad is a club great with the Tigers as a three-time All-Australian, dual best and fairest and the first Indigenous player to win a Norm Smith Medal, and fellow Tiwi
Islands product Daniel has claimed two flags there.
St Mary’s co-captain Shannon Rioli said Maurice Jr had the traits exhibited by his other cousins, ex-Hawthorn star Cyril and West Coast’s Willie: fierce tackling, repeat efforts, pace and an eye for goals.
“He’s a jet,” Shannon said. “We keep saying with every Rioli that comes through, but he could be the best of the lot.”
Former AFLNT talent manager Brenton Toy called Maurice Jr a ripping young man.
“He’s always showed glimpses of brilliance, but as he grew into his body he showed he had everything – the attitude, intensity, footy smarts and cleverness around goals, but like his dad, his tackle pressure was outstanding,” Toy said.