Rioli hopes to keep tradition going at Richmond or Hawthorn GREY MORRIS
NT News
November 23, 2015 9:44AM
AFL Draft prospect Daniel Rioli is tipped to join Richmond at the National AFL Draft.DANIEL Rioli has visions of wearing a Richmond jumper on the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the manner his grandfather Maurice did three decades ago.
The 18-year-old Melville islander will find out his football fate on Tuesday when the 2015 AFL Draft swings into action at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
But while a Rioli to Richmond (pick 15) story would read like a fairytale, the Tigers could be beaten to the punch by clubs like Carlton (1, 10, 14), GWS, Essendon (5, 6) and GWS (9, 11).
Rioli has had regular conversations with all 18 AFL clubs, but admits Richmond and Hawthorn are his favourite destinations if the draft cards fall his way.
“Richmond would be great, especially when my grandfather Maurice was there all those years ago and was a great player for them,’’ Daniel said.
“Hawthorn, with my cousin Cyril there would be good as well, but to be honest, any other club wouldn’t worry me, because we’ve had Dean at Essendon and of course Maurice with the Tigers.
“So to have a Rioli at a different club to those three would be different and a big challenge for me personally.
“I’ve had a fair few clubs speaking to me during the pre-season and the combine as well, where they came and spoke to me again.
“I was pretty happy with my combine results and how I performed there after what I thought was a good season with the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup.’’
The 18-year-old combined endurance and speed bursts at the draft combine, grabbing the best time in the 30m repeat sprints that require players to run six of them with less than 10 seconds recovery time between runs.
The clubs rate the repeat sprints as important tests for measuring a player’s ability to perform second and third efforts while remaining in the contest.
Rioli’s 24.15 seconds in the repeat sprints and third in the 20m sprint gave notice his body was ready for the challenge of elite football.
Played as a mobile forward by the Rebels, Rioli enjoyed this year’s under-18 nationals where coach Andrew Hodges played him up the ground, through the midfield and the wing.
He flies to Adelaide this morning with his dad Bradley and mum Belinda from Melville Island for what he hopes will be the biggest day of his football life.
“I’m confident I guess, but I don’t want to worry about it too much,’’ he said. “I want to go there, hope for the best and enjoy the night with my family and the AFLNT people.
“I want to thank mum and dad and the staff at Tiwi College for getting me to where I am now.
“They gave me the opportunity to go down south to St Pat’s College in Ballarat and I’ll always be grateful for that.
“Whatever happens, making the move from the islands to Victoria was worth it. Hopefully that will be even bigger today.’’
http://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/local-afl/rioli-hopes-to-keep-tradition-going-at-richmond-or-hawthorn/story-fnk2to87-1227620795560
