Maurice Rioli Jr joins his nephew and three-time premiership player Daniel in Richmond colours

Maurice Rioli Jr completed a Richmond hat-trick for his family at this week’s AFL Draft and he wants to wear his dad’s No.17 jumper in the senior side next season

New AFL Tiger Maurice Rioli in the familiar green and gold of NTFL club St Mary's. Picture: Felicity Elliott AFLNT/Media.

MAURICE Rioli Jr plans to be the third member of the iconic Melville Island family to pull on Richmond’s famous yellow and black jumper.

Richmond secured Maurice Jr as a father-son selection at No.51 in Wednesday’s draft, matching Essendon’s bid for the multiskilled 18-year-old.

The first bounce of the 2021 season is still three months away, but the son of the late Maurice Sr, Richmond’s first Norm Smith medallist, is ready for the step-up to senior footy.

“That’s the plan, to play for the premiers as soon as I can, it would be a dream come true,’’ Jr told the NT News from Melbourne yesterday.

Those plans also involve the coveted No.17 jumper, worn by his dad for 118 games from 1982-87 and now owned by his nephew Daniel.

Lured to Richmond from WAFL club South Fremantle by good mate Mal Brown, Maurice Sr responded with some brilliant performances.

At the top of the list was the 1982 VFL Grand Final loss to Carlton when he won the Norm Smith Medal as the best player on the ground.

“I’d love to wear my old man’s No.17, so I guess there will have to be some talking between Daniel and me,’’ he said.

“But first things first, I have to do a COVID test before I can get down to training with Richmond, probably some time next week.’’

Rioli said his dad’s team was always his first choice, away from Fremantle and Essendon who showed a lot of interest in him.

“Richmond said they were interested very early and they’ve come through, so I’m very excited to be part of the premier team and to be able to follow my dad,’’ he said.

NT Thunder Academy coach Jason Roe is thrilled Rioli and Wanderers young gun Joel Jeffrey (Gold Coast) have found themselves at AFL clubs.

“Maurice Jnr is also an exciting get for Richmond with his proven speed, agility and appetite for hard work,” Roe said.

“Maurice loves to prey on his opponents and pounce when they least expect it and we are confident he will do the family name and the Territory proud.”