Image: Daniel Rioli Instagram @17rioli
There will be attempts over the course of 2020 to “keep a lid on it” wherever Maurice Rioli Junior is concerned.
That is the sentiment coming from both the AFL NT’s Northern Territory Football League - the competition in which Rioli’s St Mary’s play - and the Oakleigh Chargers - the NAB League club where he will spend some time this year.
17-year-old Rioli, the son of Richmond legend Maurice Senior and cousin of two-time premiership Tiger Daniel, is generating plenty of buzz in certain parts of the footy world, particularly around Melbourne where expectant Tigers fans cannot wait to see him in yellow and black.
It is not a given that he will be a Tiger come the 2020 AFL Draft, but it’s a likely scenario.
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“They should take him as a father-son, they’d be silly not to,” Chargers talent manager Jy Bond told SEN.com.au.
“Tigers fans would be up in arms if they let a Rioli go.”
Conceptualising the idea of the Rioli name being further embedded into club culture and reimagining the way the sublime Maurice Snr gracefully moved around in the famous colours would stir the emotions of both Richmond and wider football fans alike.
But the pressure and expectation to emulate his famous dad will only come from the outside.
Bond insists it will be a softly, slowly approach from a Chargers point of view as there is already so much on Rioli’s plate including NT Thunder, Scotch College and St Mary’s obligations.
“We had him on our list last year but it was more of a case of get him in and let him do what he wants,” he added.
“Just not to bust his chops and let him go and do his thing.
“He’s a good kid, a funny kid, a really likeable guy.
“When he’s at Richmond, from all reports, he trains very well and when he’s at the next level he really fits in.
“We are keen to play him when he’s available and no doubt we’ll be trying to give him a game as soon as we can.
“He’ll play for NT Thunder and he’ll play for Scotch and then when he’s available, he’ll play (with Oakleigh). Obviously everyone would like to see him at NAB League level.
“We’d like to see him more often but he’s not unlike other kids in that he’s got a lot of competing priorities at this stage.”
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From the St Mary’s side of things, it’s all about ensuring the talented youngster is not placed too high on a pedestal.
“They want to keep a lid on it. There’s a lot of hype around him,” said AFL NT media manager Carl Pfeiffer.
“He’s a bit of a shy kid. The club attempts to talk him down just so the hype doesn’t get to him.”
Rioli has put some impressive games together in the NTFL, including a best-on-ground, four-goal performance in the semi-final victory over Nightcliff a fortnight ago.
"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
Pfeiffer says that customary Rioli ability is glaringly evident.
“This season, he’s bulked up and improved,” Pfeiffer added.
“Some of the things he does, like that classic Rioli hunting, where he sneaks up on a defender and goes bang with a tackle, it’s exciting.”
That excitement will be on show in the NAB League when he does get the opportunity to play for the Chargers, alongside fellow indigenous rising star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing him at the fall of the ball for Jamarra,” Bond added.
“Jamarra has been really good with getting him to training and things like that.
“Playing for St Mary’s during our pre-season, we don’t see a lot of him, but he’s been more engaged in our program this year.”
Rioli will be in action this Saturday night in the NTFL Grand Final when the Saints and the Tigers clash at TIO Stadium in Darwin.
St Mary’s is the only club to inflict defeat on Nightcliff this season, beating them by 27 points in Round 7 with Jackson Paine (former Collingwood and Brisbane forward) kicking five goals before knocking off the minor premiers by 26 points in the semi-final.
The Saints will be anticipating, but certainly not expecting, a quality Rioli performance as they look to swiftly bounce back from last year’s wooden spoon (their first ever) by holding aloft their 33rd NTFL premiership cup this Saturday night.
After all, the Rioli name is synonymous with winning premierships.
