Tiger great Maurice Rioli dies at 53 * Nui Te Koha
* From: Sunday Herald Sun
* December 26, 2010 FOOTBALL great Maurice Rioli has died while celebrating Christmas with family.
Rioli, a former Richmond star and 1982 Norm Smith Medallist, suffered a heart attack at his Darwin home about 3pm yesterday.
He was 53.
Hours after his passing, tributes poured in from family, friends and former teammates from around the country.
Mal Brown, who coached Rioli at South Fremantle, said: "He was the most gifted player I ever coached. I loved him as a player and as a person."
Former teammates echoed those comments.
"Maurice was just awesome, absolutely brilliant," former Tigers full-forward Michael Roach said. "He was the best tackler at Richmond in my time there."
From Melville Island in the Northern Territory, Rioli is regarded as the first of the modern indigenous superstar AFL players.
A three-time All-Australian, his freakish ball-handling skills and kicking prowess were renowned.
"He was a left-footer who could turn back on to his right foot. He walked around everybody," Brown said.
After football, Rioli enjoyed a life in politics.
He was elected as the member for Arafura in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in 1992.
Rioli held that position until 2001 when he retired from parliament.
Friends said Rioli was a low-key and humble man.
"You wouldn't know he was around, half the time," Roach said.
Rioli was the uncle of Hawthorn star Cyril and former Bomber Dean Rioli. He was also cousin to Essendon great Michael Long.
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