AFL rolling All-Australian team 2022: The league’s best-22 after round 10
A stellar Dreamtime performance has seen Daniel Rioli crack the rolling All-Australian team but it is a teammate who has to make way. FULL TEAM
It’s one Tiger for another.
With great apologies to Jayden Short who has to make way, Daniel Rioli has been a watching brief for the rolling All-Australian team and his Dreamtime performance proved the clincher.
Rioli — who made a real case for the Yiooken Award last Saturday night — has admitted even he had his doubts about a move to halfback.
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But with the speed, creativity and flair that seems to come with being a Rioli, he has made it his own and is having a significant impact.
He told the Herald Sun last week that he felt like “a new player”, and it shows.
“It used to be mainly kicking goals and now it’s defending the goals,” Rioli said.
“I still love kicking goals and any chance I get to get close to goal I’ll try to have a crack.
“It’s a different role for me, but I like it. You get to assess the ground more and I’m fast, I’m quick and I think being in that halfback role, you get the ball and run with it and get to keep running.
“Up forward, you don’t get that offensive side of it as much.
“For me, I’m loving it. I feel like a new player now.”
Short’s move into the midfield has been a revelation by Tigers coach Damien Hardwick and his team, and the premiership former defender will continue to push his case.
As does Jack Crisp, who delivered another blistering showing against the Dockers to have himself in contention.
But no one in that midfield is proving too keen to give up their spot.
Clayton Oliver only continues to frank his credentials as one of the premier midfielders of the competition, while Bailey Smith did it again in Ballarat to hold firm on his spot.
As we near the halfway mark of the competition, the changes are becoming few and far between, but there remains plenty of time for players to stake their claim.
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