AFL draft 2015: Daniel Rioli relishes the big occasion just like his ‘uncle’ Cyril Rioli

DANIEL Rioli should be selected in the first 20 picks at the national draft, possibly to join the Hawks, after following a similar pathway to his “uncle” Cyril.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 1: Daniel Rioli of Northern Territory kicks the ball during the 2015 AFL Under 18 match between Northern Territory and Tasmania at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, Australia on July 1, 2015. (Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media)

WHEN Daniel Rioli relocated from Tiwi College to St Patrick’s in Ballarat he was scared, cold and lonely.

It was 2012 and Rioli, then 14, was joining as a boarder with four years of schooling and, hopefully, an AFL career in front of him.

“A form arrived and my parents said why not and I said why not, too,” Rioli said.

After all, it was the path strutted with mega success by “uncle” Cyril Rioli eight years earlier, except the Hawthorn superstar boarded at Scotch College.

Three years in and Daniel’s move was yet to ignite. Last year he couldn’t crack St Pat’s footy team, instead plodding away at East Point Football Club.

The AFL career he had grown up dreaming of seemed as far away as the Northern Territory.

Yet on Tuesday night he should be selected in the first 20 picks, possibly to join the Hawks.

It’s been a whirlwind season for the teenager. Or, more to the point, a whirlwind end to the season.

Rioli started the TAC Cup season with North Ballarat Rebels plagued by inconsistency and talent manager Phil Partington admits his pressure was not up to scratch.

Too often, Partington said, Rioli would “pull the white flag out of his sock” on freezing cold days in Ballarat.

Then the big stages started to roll around and Rioli was picked for Northern Territory in the national championships.

Rioli received a surprise invitation to the draft combine – “it just came out of the blue”.

Rioli was lining up in TAC Cup finals, kicking four goals from seven disposals in his first September game.

Daniel Rioli shows his skills at the draft combine. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media

He was selected to play in the Grand Final curtain-raiser, ticking off his dream to play on the MCG.

And, suddenly, Rioli was a hot draft prospect as the flavour of the month. Delicious.

“That Allies game (on Grand Final day) we were under pressure on the big stage,” Rioli recalled.

“And I reckon I perform way better on big stages.”

The crafty 179cm forward produced one goal from 19 disposals that day, almost mirroring Norm Smith winner Cyril’s numbers (two goals from 18 disposals) in the main event.

Rioli went to Cyril’s house the day after the Grand Final but after a night out celebrating Cyril quickly fell asleep in a chair.

But Rioli took photos with his medals, lapped up the three-peat and stayed there in the lead-up to the combine where he exploded into the first-round mix.

He was the standout performer, punching his name into the leader board of five tests.

Rioli’s results were no fluke.

After the Rebels season ended he headed home and into the bush, embarking on an intense running program in preparation for the Etihad Stadium tests.

In the outback and with peaceful surrounds, the gun junior athlete would run 5km and do his recovery at a swimming hole.

His dad, Brad, would take him and Rioli would send photos back to the Rebels after his runs to prove he was sticking to their fitness program.

Rioli – a keen fisherman and hunter of wallabies, buffalo and goose – also credits his dad for his sharp kicking style, a natural right and an improving left.

“When Daniel kicks the footy it makes a much sweeter sound than when a lot of boys kick the footy,” Partington said.

When Rioli was growing up he used to chase Cyril with frogs – believing he was the quicker Rioli – and when Cyril joined the Hawks he wanted to chase him into the AFL.

“Maurice Rioli, my grandfather, played at Richmond and then I’ve watching my uncle Cyril play at the highest level and also Dean (Rioli) at Essendon.

“So I’ve seen them and I’ve seen some of Maurice’s highlights, too.

“Why not try and get up there and make a name for myself as well?”

DANIEL’S SIZZLING COMBINE

Relative vertical jump: 69cm (equal 5th)

20m sprint: 2.89sec (equal 2nd)

30m repeat sprints: 24.15sec (1st)

Clean hands test: 27/30 (equal 4th)

3km time trial: 10min 09sec (equal 6th)

Originally published as AFL draft 2015: Daniel Rioli relishes the big occasion just like his ‘uncle’ Cyril Rioli