Maurice Rioli Jr wants to play for his dad’s club Richmond when the Tigers head to next month’s draft
Maurice Rioli Jr set to play alongside his cousin Daniel at AFL premier Richmond after nominating them as his preferred club at next month’s AFL Draft
AFL
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FREMANTLE’S chances of securing an exciting father-son prospect in next month’s national draft have copped a significant hit with Maurice Rioli Jr officially nominating Richmond as his preferred destination.
Rioli Jr, the son of late Richmond and South Fremantle champion Maurice, had the choice of three clubs — the Dockers and Tigers under the father-son rule and Essendon — through their Next Generation Academy, or to ignore all three and go into the draft.
But the NT News can reveal the paperwork for the silky-skilled forward has been lodged with the AFL which will bring him a step closer to joining the reigning AFL premier.
Rival clubs can still bid on the Tiwi islander, leaving the ball in Richmond’s court on whether to match them.
The Tigers rate Rioli Jr highly so it will have to be an early bid for them to let him slip.
If a bid comes in the top-20, Richmond will get a 20 per cent points discount, but any later will mean a much smaller cost of 197 points, worth a little more than pick 56 (194 points).
Fremantle, who has spoken with Rioli Jr several times, has picks 12, 32 and 55 in next month’s draft.
Rioli Jr has made no secret of his desire to follow in his father’s footsteps and wear the yellow and black.
The 18-year-old is already settled in Melbourne where he earned a scholarship to attend Scotch College, the same school his cousin and four-time Hawthorn premiership star Cyril (Junior Boy) Rioli attended.
He is also close with triple premiership Tiger and cousin Daniel Rioli.
“I barrack for Richmond and see Daniel on some weekends, so hopefully I’ll get to play for the same team my dad played for,” he said in 2018.
Rioli Jr is rated among the best small forward draft prospects in this year’s crop by AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan.
Originally published as Maurice Rioli Jr wants to play for his dad’s club Richmond when the Tigers head to next month’s draft
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