Daniel Rioli: Gold Coast Suns defender on life in Queensland, Damien Hardwick and Richmond

After nine seasons and three flags, Daniel Rioli’s Richmond departure shattered Tiger fans. The Suns’ speedster says he has no regrets about moving north in the hunt for his fourth premiership.

It’s 1.30pm on a Wednesday and Daniel Rioli has places to be. Gold Coast’s main training session ran overtime and now he is up against the clock.

The dashing defender has graciously agreed to back-to-back interviews, after lunch and a quick gym session.

But as he sits down for his first chat, Rioli politely notes: “I need to be home by three”.

It is not until partway through the second interview that he reveals the reason.

“As soon as we finish up this conversation, to be honest, I’m going to find some live bait, go out to the canal and try to catch some fish.”

Rioli is loving life on the Gold Coast. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Rioli enjoys Richmond’s 2020 premiership with his now Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick. Picture: Sarah Reed

Wetting a line of an afternoon has become an almost daily habit for Rioli since he made the move to Queensland. Easy to do, when it’s right on your doorstep.

Not long after his high-profile trade from Richmond to the Suns went through in October, Rioli and his DJ fiance, Paris Lawrence, moved into a house on one of the Gold Coast’s many canals.

If there was any lingering trepidation about the decision to swap Melbourne for Mermaid Waters, it quickly vanished once the power couple settled in their new home.

“As soon as I got here I said to (Paris), ‘why haven’t we moved up here earlier?’,” Rioli recalled.

“It’s just right up my alley. The fishing, the hunting, the warm weather. It’s just so motivating.”

The 27-year-old has never wanted for motivation, but the Glitter Strip’s golden beaches and laid-back lifestyle have unlocked something deep inside him.

“I think once you get here it changes you, to be honest,” Rioli said.

“Everyone is just so laid-back. It’s something I noticed as soon as we moved up here.

“It’s a different lifestyle to Melbourne. It’s so motivating being here. You want to get up for a coffee, you want to go for a walk, you want to go fishing — whatever it is.

“There’s something about the Gold Coast, I reckon.”

And Gold Coast thought there was something about Rioli, too.

It’s why the Suns shipped two first-round picks to Richmond for the running defender’s services last year.

Rioli and his partner Paris wonder why they didn’t move north sooner. Picture: Mark Stewart

The heavy draft capital cost was questioned by the wider AFL, but if the Suns cash-in on their investment as expected, they will be picks well-spent.

Fresh from a career-best campaign that earned him a maiden Jack Dyer medal, Rioli asked to be traded to the Suns after nine seasons and three flags at Punt Rd.

He was not the only premiership Tiger to leave at the end of 2024, but his exit is the one that stung fans the most.

Although he is more than happy in his new home, Rioli says he will never forget — or take for granted — his time in the yellow and black.

Moments before he sat down to begin his interview, a fan tapped him on the shoulder and asked for a quick selfie.

You can take the man out of Richmond …

“I’ve had heaps of encounters, to be honest, at Bunnings or down at the cafe — I’ve had a fair few people stop and ask me for a photo,” Rioli said.

“They’re Richmond supporters and they’re actually happy for me, which I really do appreciate. I’m so grateful to them for respecting my decision.

“It’s obviously going to be expected, getting booed and whatever. That’s part of footy, everyone goes through that at some stage. But I still love that club.

“I got to wear my grandfather’s (Maurice Rioli Snr) No. 17 (guernsey) there and that is something I’ll hold dear to my heart until the day I die. I won three premierships there.

“I’m still close with a fair few of the blokes there and there are no hard feelings. I love those boys to death – and not just the players. The Tiger Army has been amazing for me over my career. I’m glad I was able to have my nine years at Richmond.

“(But) this is a new start, a new journey for me now, and I’m looking forward to it.

“How I look at it, if I’m happy off-field then I’ll be happy on field and I’m well and truly happy off-field right now. I’m loving every bit of it.

“I’m sure when the games come around, you will see me having fun on-field and playing, hopefully, some good footy.”

Rioli says the Tigers will always hold a special place in his heart. Picture: Michael Klein

Make no mistake, this is no Glitter Strip getaway.

Rioli might have three premiership medals tucked away at home, but that only makes him hungrier to add to the collection.

Having now reunited with former Tigers coach Damien Hardwick at the Suns, there is a belief in both men that they can recreate the premiership blueprint that worked so well at Richmond.

“He’s been amazing for my footy journey and as a person as well,” Rioli said of Hardwick.

“I spent a couple of years, as an 18-year-old kid just out of the Tiwi Islands, straight into his household. I got to see a side of him not many people get to see – the footy coach side of it, but also what he is like off the field.”

Rioli loves the lifestyle, loves the weather and loves having familiar faces around him.

But it has not all been smooth sailing since arriving in Queensland – in just his second session at the Suns, Rioli injured the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee and required surgery. It kept him sidelined for months and meant missing a large chunk of the Suns’ pre-season preparations.

“It was new to me, my first knee injury — when all I wanted to do was impress the boys,” Rioli said. “It was unfortunate, but I’m glad I did it at the very start of pre-season. I’ve timed it well rolling into games now.”

He was initially expected to return for the February 20 round robin practice matches with Brisbane and Collingwood, but the club chose to hold him out for an extra week to be certain he was good to go.

“I could have played, to be honest. Instead, I had my own little running session out on the back oval (at the same time),” Rioli said.

“I could see all the fans rocking up and rolling through the gates. Listening to that first quarter, the siren and the crowd when someone kicked a goal, I was running laps and I just getting so itchy, wishing I was playing.

“I’m feeling pretty fresh now. I’m just keen to get back into it. I love footy, it makes me happy. That’s my escape as well. I like to go out there, have fun and just be free.”

Daniel Rioli with Richmond’s 2019 premiership trophy. Picture: Mark Stewart

And lapping up his first taste of glory with Trent Cotchin in 2017.

His first minutes in Suns colours came against the Swans the following week and Rioli immediately made a mark with a handful of trademark slicing runs from defensive 50m.

Knowing Hardwick’s system inside and out from their time together at the Tigers, Rioli should slot seamlessly into a Suns back six, which will rate itself among the best in the competition.

Key defenders Sam Collins, Charlie Ballard and Mac Andrew would all be walk-up starters at just about any other club, while Bodhi Uwland has quickly established himself as one of the top medium defenders in the AFL.

Wil Powell, ex-Magpie John Noble and Rioli form a potent trio of rebounding ball users capable of turning defence into attack at the drop of a hat.

Rioli has played in some star-studded back lines over the years and believes this one has the potential to be special.

“We’re stacked,” he declared.

“Collo (Collins) has been amazing. He’s pretty much that (Alex) Rance, (Dylan) Grimes type of general down back, just directing you where to place yourself. Great leadership.

“Then you have Bodhi Uwland – he’s amazing. He reminds me a bit of Nick Vlastuin.

“Coming to the Gold Coast, it has a similar sort of feel – similar to those Richmond back lines. Everyone is so hungry. I just have a really good feeling about this year and I can’t wait to get back out there.”

Originally published as Daniel Rioli: Gold Coast Suns defender on life in Queensland, Damien Hardwick and Richmond