Father-son rule beckons for Maurice Rioli Jr in his quest to follow his late dad to Richmond

MAURICE Rioli Jr continues to add to the intrigue and fascination of the great Melville Island football family.

Cousins Maurice Rioli Jr and Brayden Rioli relax before St Mary’s NTFL clash against the Tiwi Bombers on Bathurst Island. Picture: JUSTIN KENNEDY

MAURICE Rioli Jr continues to add to the intrigue and fascination of the great Melville Island football family.

The 16-year-old forward-on-baller turned out for his NTFL club St Mary’s last weekend and made a lasting impression.

One of the Saints’ best players in a disappointing loss to the Tiwi Bombers on Bathurst Island, Maurice Jr told the NT News a place on Richmond’s playing list was his No.1 aim.

His dad played 118 games for Richmond and 168 games for WAFL club South Fremantle, meaning the Tigers (100-plus VFL games and Fremantle Dockers (150-plus games for an eligible WAFL club) can secure him under the father-son rule.

A student at Scotch College in Melbourne, the same school that Cyril “Junior Boy’’ Rioli attended before his spectacular playing career at Hawthorn, Maurice Jr has set his sights on a similar direction another cousin, Daniel, took on his way to Richmond.

“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.

“But right now I’m a St Mary’s player, all my family played there and that’s what I’m doing right now.’’

His cousin and St Mary’s captain Shannon Rioli expects to see a lot more of Maurice Jr at Premier League level.

“He’ll be available for some games while he’s up here on school holidays and the new fly-in rules mean he might be able to play a few more,’’ Shannon said.

‘‘Maurice has got plenty of tools to use and it just depends on how hard he works as to how far he goes.

“Because he can play the game better than most, his dad is who he is and his mum (Alberta) is a Kerinaiua, so he is off on the right foot.’’