Image: Courtesy @AFLNT Twitter
The Rioli name is synonymous with big finals performances.
The latest in a long line of Riolis, Maurice Jnr, lived up to the family ethos with a significant showing in the NTFL semi-final on Saturday night.
The 17-year-old son of Richmond legend Maurice Snr kicked four goals and was named best on ground as St Mary’s defeated Nightcliff by 26 points to progress to the NTFL Grand Final.
It was a performance that will certainly have Tigers fans even more hopeful as they continue to anticipate his potential move to Punt Road as a father-son selection.
Maurice Jnr admitted to the NT News that it was one of his best performances in a St Mary's jumper.
“Yeah, I’d say that, I got a bit of the footy in one of my best games for Saints,” he said.
“I reckon my pressure is my main strength, pressure around the ball and on my opponent and things generally happen from there.”
And what would the late, great Maurice Snr be feeling?
“And I know my dad is looking down on me, I think he’d be proud of me,” he added.
"This is not impossible for him!" even the commentators are in awe of how Maurice Rioli Jnr has developed this season. The St Mary's youngster's skill set tongues wagging in his side's SF win.#NTFLfinals #NTFLtruecolours #territoryfooty pic.twitter.com/NFqr6MZqNp
— AFLNT (@AFLNT) March 2, 2020
SEN Breakfast’s Garry Lyon saw some of the replay on TV and was suitably impressed by Rioli Jnr’s ability.
“The rest of the competition might have to pull their socks up if what I saw yesterday transfers into the draft,” Lyon said.
“Maurice Rioli Jnr flashed in and out of my TV screen every couple of minutes doing something unbelievable.
“Doesn’t he look good. Unbelievable.”
St Mary’s return to the top has been quite remarkable given they were wooden spooners for the first time in club history last season with just five wins.
This season they mustered 14 home-and-away wins, being the only team to beat Nightcliff, before again knocking off the Tigers to progress to the decider.
However, their fall to the bottom last season was an aberration as they have won 32 premierships since entering the competition in the 1950s, with their most recent flag coming in 2017.
The 2020 NTFL Grand Final between St Mary’s and the winner of next weekend's Nightcliff v Southern Districts prelim takes place on Saturday, March 14.