Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt believes this weekend will mark a very proud moment for the club.
The Tigers host North Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday, when they will unleash a famous name which continues a family legacy.
Maurice Rioli Jnr, who was drafted last year, will step out for the first time at AFL level after impressing Damien Hardwick with his form in the VFL.
Rioli, 19, is the son of club legend and Norm Smith Medallist Maurice Snr, and the uncle of triple premiership player Daniel, and already has Tigers fans excited.
Teammate Riewoldt has offered some insight as to what the speedy small forward will bring to the team.
“When he came to the club with such a famous name, we didn’t know what to expect,” Riewoldt said on SEN’s Jack & Painey.
“He’d been around for a little bit and we’d seen a bit of him through his early years.
“You look for improvement in young kids and sometimes it takes two to three years, but he has really hit the ground running. He’s improved in every facet, he’s improved his body, he is lightning quick, lightning, lightning quick.
“He loves to tackle as well which is the one thing you’ve got to ingrain in guys, the defensive side of their game, but he has got it in spades and it comes naturally to him.”
Riewoldt knows very well that the Rioli name is so symbolic to much of the Tiger Army and can’t wait to see the youngster in action.
Following in the footsteps of Maurice Snr (Richmond), Dean (Essendon), Cyril (Hawthorn) and Willie (West Coast), Maurice Jnr will team up with Daniel to extend the strong Rioli tradition.
“It is a very exciting time for Richmond supporters and obviously for Maurice and his family all the way up there in the Tiwi Islands,” he added.
“I don’t think many teams would have had two Riolis playing in the same team so it might be one of the first times we’ve seen that.
“No doubt it will be a proud moment for their family and a proud moment for the football club as well.”
Rioli is one of a handful of changes for the clash with the Kangaroos, joining Nick Vlastuin, Kamdyn McIntosh, Hugo Ralphsmith and Callum Coleman-Jones in the 22, with Jack Ross, Jake Aarts, Jason Castagna, Mabior Chol and Ryan Garthwaite all omitted.
The Tigers find themselves 11th on the ladder after six losses from their past seven matches, but a win in Rioli’s debut would reignite any slim finals hopes they may have.