Richmond’s Rioli fairytale continues with Maurice Jr to follow in father’s footsteps and join cousin Daniel at Tigerland

MAURICE Rioli Jr’s cousin – St Mary’s captain Shannon Rioli – believes the 18-year-old can be a revelation at the Richmond Tigers, the club where his late father wrote himself into the history books as a football legend.

St Mary’s junior Maurice Rioli Jr was delighted to be picked up at No.51 by Richmond Tigers in the 2020 AFL Draft last night. Picture: Felicity Elliott/AFLNT Media

MAURICE Rioli Jr’s cousin – St Mary’s captain Shannon Rioli – believes the 18-year-old can be a revelation at the Richmond Tigers, the club where his late father wrote himself into the history books as a football legend.

In a fairytale selection, the junior Saints star came in at pick No.51 for the Tigers in the 2020 AFL Draft last night, and he will join another champion Rioli at Tigerland.

That will be his cousin, three-time premiership winner Daniel Rioli.

Maurice Rioli Sr won two club best-and-fairest awards (1982 and 1983) and a Norm Smith Medal in the 1982 Grand Final.

Star Saints junior Maurice Rioli Jr has been picked up at No.51 by the Richmond Tigers. Picture: Felicity Elliott/AFLNT Media

“Maurice Jr is a super footballer and fits your small forward prototype,” Shannon Rioli told the NT News.

“He’s also a good tackle and knows how to kick a goal.

“It’s pretty special (that he’ll end up at Richmond) through the father-son program.

“And Daniel has talked about handing over the No.17 jumper (which Maurice Sr played in).

“So we’ll wait and see about that one.”

St Mary’s captain Shannon Rioli says Maurice Rioli Jr’s humility – like his late great father – is his best asset ahead of AFL Combine

Former Northern Territory Thunder captain Shannon Rioli says the region’s AFL pathways ‘improving’

Maurice Rioli Jr wants to play for his dad’s club Richmond when the Tigers head to next month’s draft

Will Maurice Rioli Jr want his dad’s No.17 jumper if he joins Richmond at this year’s national draft?

Shannon Rioli said there would be no shortage of support for Rioli in Melbourne because the extended family made that promise to look after him following his father’s tragic passing from a heart attack in 2010.

“Everyone in the family made a promise to support Maurice and take care of him,” Shannon Rioli said.

“My brother Dean played 10 years at Essendon so he can pass on his knowledge, he’ll have Daniel as a teammate and he’s best mates with (the Bulldogs’ No.1 pick) Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

“They went to Scotch College together where Maurice got a good education.

“It’s a great story because I also went to Scotch College, and it has a strong Indigenous connection.”

Star St Mary’s junior Maurice Rioli Jr is renowned for his tackling skills as well as his freakish attacking ability. Picture: Felicity Elliott/AFLNT Media

Rioli Jr made his Premier League debut for Saints as a 16-year-old in 2017-18, instantly impressing with his maturity and freakish ability up front.

This is why the Tigers have had an eye on him for quite some time.

And like his late father, Rioli Jr is also known for his genuine and caring nature away from the field.

“Maurice was flat-out catching up with family on Bathurst and Melville Islands, and he caught up with a lot of the boys at Tiwi, St Mary’s and in the Thunder program when he was up here recently,” Shannon Rioli said.

“He’s back in Melbourne now and Richmond has told him they want him to train with them straight away.”