Dean Rioli handed the chief pilot’s role at the Tiwi Bombers as the NTFL club looks to consolidate

The Tiwi Bombers turn to a Rioli as the future unwinds for the NTFL’s youngest club

AFL star Dean Rioli and Menzies trainee Raelene Collins at their Royal Darwin Hospital premises. Picture: Thomas Morgan

NTFL club the Tiwi Bombers have had a change at the top with a Rioli taking charge of the island club for the first time in their 15-year history.

Dean Rioli, a grand final player at Essendon and a premiership player with South Fremantle in Perth’s WAFL competition, replaces the long serving Mary Dunn in the main pilots’ seat.

His 100 games in the black and red of Essendon also mean his sons qualify under the AFL’s father-son rule to continue the Rioli name at the famous club.

Dean Rioli, a former coach at Palmerston, Wanderers and the Tiwis, takes over the club's administration at a crucial time.

The results of full post-season review of the Tiwis’ disastrous 2020-21 NTFL season is expected in the coming weeks.

That was after the Bombers failed to win a game in the 18-round campaign for the first time in their history.

A new senior coach will also be appointed after Shane Tipuamantimirri and Jamie Scrymgour ran a joint operation in the last two seasons.

Rioli’s experience and knowledge of all things Tiwi — he played for the Bombers in their inaugural season, 2006-7 — will provide a big foundation for future years.

Rioli could not be contacted yesterday, but AFLNT boss Stuart Totham is rapt to get Rioli’s experience behind a Tiwi side desperate to bounce back from the despair of last season’s collapse.

“It’s terrific to see someone of Dean’s experience on and off the playing arena take on the role,’’ Totham said.

“With the support of Alan McGill and the rest of the newly appointed committee I think the Tiwis as a footy club will be steered in the right direction pretty quickly.’’

Totham wants to continue his league’s close association with the Bombers.

“We’ll be working pretty closely with the Tiwis to make sure they’re up and about for 2021-22 and beyond,’’ he said.

The applications for a new senior coach at the Tiwi Bombers close at the end of this month with several local and interstate names already being bandied about..