Daniel Rioli reveals his excitement ahead of 200th AFL game against the Adelaide Crows
Gold Coast Suns defender Daniel Rioli will become the first Rioli to play 200 AFL/VFL games this weekend. He reveals the one burning desire that keeps him pushing at the elite level.
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Suns defender Daniel Rioli says the thirst to win Gold Coast’s first AFL premiership is the biggest driving force keeping him going ahead of his 200th game at the top level.
Rioli will make history this Sunday by becoming the first with his famous surname to play 200 VFL/AFL games when Gold Coast play Adelaide in round 19 of the competition.
One of the game’s most iconic families, the honour of reaching the milestone is not lost on the 28-year-old.
“It’s obviously pretty special, coming from the Tiwi Islands, I just wanted to play AFL footy in front of the big crowds,” he said.
“When I first got to the Richmond Football Club I wanted to play one game and I knew my grandfather Maurice played 118 games for Richmond and I tried to reach that.
“Then I got past my grandfather and figured out Cyril was on 189 and then I went past that and now it’s just me trying to get more games into me.
“To get to 200 is pretty special and I’m obviously proud of myself and couldn’t have done it without my fiance, family, everyone that’s played a big part in my journey.
“I am looking forward to the occasion and should be a good game against the Crows.”
He may have three premierships and 199 games under his belt, but Rioli has shown no signs of slowing down.
He said the sport is a form of escape for him and has one key goal driving him to continue playing at the elite level as he attempts to win a fourth flag, something Cyril managed to do at Hawthorn.
“The Suns haven’t played in a final so we haven’t won any premierships yet but to be a part of Gold Coast’s first premiership is going to be special,” he said.
“That’s obviously our end goal, we’re not looking too far ahead, we’re just focusing on the next shift which is Adelaide.
“We want to show the Gold Coast people that we mean business and we’re a completely different side to the previous Gold Coast Suns.”
Few figures have had such a big impact on Rioli like Suns coach Damien Hardwick, who mentored him at Richmond before doing the same on the Gold Coast.
“He’s been massive for me, when I first got drafted to Richmond he was there and I lived with him for two years so I have a really good connection with him,” Rioli said.
“I got to see the footy side of Dimma and the family side of Dimma.
“He’s got a good balance of switching, he’s obviously a very good coach and then a family man also.”
Gold Coast takes on Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions in its next two fixtures to round out a blockbuster trio of clashes and Rioli said his side’s win against Collingwood is proof the team is stronger than ever before.
“We’re just showing what we’re capable of, we’re not the Gold Coast side that crumbles under pressure, we're hungry, we’re maturing in every game and I think it showed on the weekend,” he said.
“We can match it against any team, it is an exciting year and I’m looking forward to where this group is heading.”
Originally published as Daniel Rioli reveals his excitement ahead of 200th AFL game against the Adelaide Crows
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