Maurice Rioli Jr has all the traits of the nationally acclaimed Melville Island football family

MAURICE Rioli Jr carries a lot of expectation in his 17-year-old body after the deeds of his father at the elite level and state competitions around the country

Maurice Rioli Jr, at right, celebrates a goal for St Mary's with teammates Anthony Wilson, left and Jackson Calder. Picture: AFLNT Media

MAURICE Rioli Jr carries a lot of expectation in his 17-year-old body after the deeds of his father at the elite level and state competitions around the country.

The Round 9 nominee for the 2019-20 NT News Rising Star, Rioli is on track to join his father’s former AFL club Richmond.

He showed all of the traits of his father, the late Maurice Rioli Sr in his comeback match for St Mary’s when the Rioli family celebrated 1000 combined games for St Mary’s.

His cousin Shannon captained the Saints in their 20-goal win over Waratah, but even he was reduced to the role of spectator for periods of the game.

“Maurice was pretty special in his first game back with us,’’ Shannon said.

“He hadn’t kicked a footy since mid-August when his school footy finished, but he didn’t take a long time to get back into it.

“His forward pressure was really good and he hit the packs hard in a manner the other young blokes and some of our senior players took a while to get into.’’

Rioli started on a forward flank for the Saints before moving to a wing and later the middle of the ground as the green and yellow jumpers took over.

Maurice Jr will return to Melbourne this week to train with Richmond after completing his school year at Scotch College.

“Hopefully he’ll play a game or two for us before Christmas and maybe a couple after,’’ Shannon said.

Other good performers in Round 9 were Nightcliff’s Tyson Kidney, Darwin Buffalo Brayden Culhane and Wanderer’s Beau O’Connell.

That trio not only found the ball, they did something with it in a creative manner.

This season’s Rising Star winner will be announced on Nichols Medal night in mid-March.