Dimma: Rioli key to Tigers’ culture

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has paid tribute to Daniel Rioli’s widespread impact at Richmond, saying he had brought his own family and the club together.

After a turbulent week in which Rioli was injured in a nightclub stoush, the Indigenous star kicked the match-winner in a last quarter Hardwick described as “special”.

Rioli (pictured) lived with Damien and Danielle Hardwick when he came to the club in 2015.

The Tigers improved to 5-4, and Hardwick made sure he singled out Rioli for his impact.

“A guy like Daniel … sometimes you forget what people brought to our club, the culture he brought, the sense of family, the sense of connection, it sort of all started around him coming,” he said.

“Not saying he’s the sole reason it happened, but I know from my own humble beginnings, when he moved in with me and Danielle, it brought our family together. What he has brought, overall, is this incredible sense of connection.

“We have the most Indigenous players on our list and there is no doubt, absolutely no doubt, that it adds to us so much. They are so important to the way we go about things.”

The Tigers face the Brisbane Lions on Friday night at the Gabba, and Hardwick said he would love to play ruck-forward Callum Coleman-Jones after he kicked five goals in the VFL last Saturday.

But he said the club had to consider what was best for its structure, instead of playing three key talls.

Richmond could also consider Dion Prestia.

“It depends how we want to structure up. I always have these arguments.”