NAB League 2019: Richmond father-son prospect Maurice Rioli Jr named on Oakleigh Chargers’ list

Maurice Rioli Jr is already showing early signs he may be as talented as his famous siblings as he looks to follow in his father’s footsteps to Richmond.

Maurice Rioli Jr fires for a mark for St Mary’s. Picture: Justin Kennedy

It’s one of the most famous names at Punt Rd and Richmond may soon have another Maurice Rioli on its books.

Maurice Rioli Jr might be only 16, but is already showing signs he may be just as talented as his famous siblings and ready to carve out an AFL career for himself.

“He’s going to be a special player,” is Oakleigh Chargers coach Leigh Clarke’s assessment of the talented teen.

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“You see very similar traits (to his dad and cousins).

Maurice Rioli Jr lines up for a goal for St Mary’s last year. Picture: Justin Kennedy

“The way he flashes through. He reads the play, he has the awareness of the game that has been honed from a lifetime of playing around with a football.”

Rioli Jr has been named on Oakleigh’s NAB League list for 2019.

He is father-son eligible at both Richmond and Fremantle as his father made 168 appearances for WAFL club South Fremantle before the Dockers entered the competition in 1995.

Rioli Sr is Richmond royalty, awarded the Norm Smith medal in the losing 1982 grand final, receiving three All Australian jumpers and winning two best and fairests across a 118-game career.

But Rioli Jr, who is draft eligible in 2020, wants to join cousin and premiership player Daniel Rioli at Richmond.

He also made his debut for NTFL club St Mary’s in October 2017 and was a Rising Star nomination in Round 9 last season.

Daniel said earlier this month he wanted to sign a new contract at Punt Rd that would allow him to play with Rioli Jr.

Cyril Rioli in action for Scotch College.

Rioli Jr is following a similar path to the one cousin Cyril took.

He is in his second year at Scotch College, the exclusive private school Cyril attended before he was drafted to Hawthorn.

“Cyril talks very highly of him and (AFL Victoria Diversity Talent Manager) Chris Johnson spoke very highly of him as well but at the moment, we’re just very mindful of integrating him into the club and Melbourne and getting him into his school,” Clarke said.

“If he can settle down over the next couple of years, it certainly could be a beautiful link with Richmond and the ongoing Rioli name.”