Dean Rioli hopes to help Fitzroy Stars continue to build in 2020

Former Essendon star Dean Rioli hopes to continue Hayden Heta’s work in lifting Fitzroy Stars up the NFL Division 2 ladder but his recruiting drive could be hindered by the player points system.

Dean Rioli during his time as Wanderers coach in the Northern Territory.

New Fitzroy Stars coach Dean Rioli is confident he can attract some big names to Sir Doug Nicholls Oval in 2020.

After a year out of coaching, the former Essendon star will take over the magnet board from Hayden Heta at the NFL Division 2 club next season.

But Rioli will seek clarification around the player points system before he can start signing players.

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“That’s the challenge for Fitzroy Stars … because they don’t have any juniors, trying to recruit players to the club equals points,” Rioli said.

“I’m trying to get my head around how that works and how we continue to develop local juniors and how we make the club sustainable for long-term success.

“I’ve got some good quality footballers that were waiting for me to take a coaching role.

Fitzroy Stars’ new coach Dean Rioli.

“That’s the challenge with the points system — we want to keep everyone, but how many points will the club have available to attract certain people.”

Outgoing coach Heta believed not being able to pick his best 22 players because of the points cap was a major reason why the Stars failed to make finals this season.

“We put a power of work in to recruit but what really hurt us was the points system. We were never able to get our full-strength team on the park,” he said after announcing his decision to step down.

The Stars finished the Division 2 season in sixth with a 7-1-8 record, only falling out of finals contention in the latter stages of the season.

After just two wins in 2018, the Stars showed glimpses of their potential with wins over finalists Eltham and Whittlesea and pushed Banyule to within seven points.

Brodie Cook in action for Fitzroy Stars. Picture: Josie Hayden

Peter Hood in action for Fitzroy Stars. Picture: Josie Hayden

Rioli was last in charge of VAFA club Therry Penola in 2018 and won a premiership as an assistant coach at EDFL powerhouse Aberfeldie in 2017.

The general manager of Goal Indigenous Services, Rioli believed the Stars could be a catalyst for change in the Aboriginal community.

“I’m heavily involved with Aboriginal employment in Victoria, so my thing is tying football in with employment, education and health,” he said.

“The Stars are a great vehicle to help with Aboriginal disadvantage issues.”

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