NT Thunder Academy coach Jason Roe: Wanderers’ Joel Jeffrey and Saints’ Maurice Rioli Jr have exciting futures at Suns, Richmond
MAURICE Rioli Jnr and Joel Jeffrey are the Territory’s newest AFL recruits following last night’s 2020 AFL Draft. And NT Thunder Academy coach Jason Roe believes both have exciting futures at the elite level.
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MAURICE Rioli Jnr and Joel Jeffrey are the Territory’s newest AFL recruits following last night’s 2020 AFL Draft.
Rioli was chosen at pick 51 by Richmond as a father-son selection following Essendon’s attempted bid to nab the small and speedy forward.
Rioli Jr is the son of the late great Maurice Rioli Sr, who played 118 games for Richmond, won the prized Norm Smith Medal in the 1982 AFL Grand Final and was a three-time All Australian winner.
Maurice Jr will be joining three-time Premiership player and cousin Daniel Rioli at the high-performing club.
Joel Jeffrey, son of the great Russell Jeffrey signed with the Gold Coast Suns, adding to the club’s primary list and as the second Darwin-based played to join the club through the Academy program.
Jeffrey is a classy footballer who plays on instinct and takes on opponents by using his dangerous sidestep and damaging footwork.
“We are thrilled that Joel has found his home at the Suns which shows NT Thunder’s partnership with the club is doing its job of creating successful pathways from club footy in the Territory to playing in the big league at an elite level,” NT Thunder Academy coach Jason Roe said.
“Maurice Jr is also an exciting get for Richmond with his proven speed, agility and appetite for hard work.
“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.”
AFLNT has adopted a strong focus on strengthening its stepping stones to elite footy from the ground up to help get more local stars listed with AFL clubs.
And the Thunder Academy is an important asset in making the region’s partnership with the Suns a powerhouse channel for finding, growing and celebrating the next generation of Territory AFL stars.
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