Rioli a mentor to indigenous matesGLENN McFARLANE,
Herald Sun
19 December 2016RICHMOND’S Daniel Rioli wants to build on his family’s deep connection to the game and has pledged to help his club’s commitment to the indigenous community.
The exciting 19-year-old, who was one of the few shining lights in the Tigers’ frustrating 2016 season, is already acting as a mentor to the indigenous small forward Shai Bolton.
He travelled to Perth as part of the welcoming party for Bolton and his family, and has given the Tigers’ first draft pick early guidance in the pre-season.
“The club has a great connection (to the indigenous community) and that’s why people really respect this club,” Rioli said this week.
“I had some good senior players like Shane Edwards help me settle into the club last year. At times I found it tough, but they made it a lot easier.
“When Shai was drafted, the club organised for me to go across to Perth and meet him and his family.
“He is a bit quiet but to see him out on the training track, he has got some great skills and I can’t wait to play with him in the future.”
Rioli played 18 games in a fine debut season. He won a Rising Star nomination in Round 22 and showed plenty of talent, highlighted by a brilliant goal he kicked against West Coast.
“I didn’t expect to play that many games in my first year, but it has given me confidence heading into next year,” he said.
“I would love to push into the midfield at some stage, but I just want to keep learning and I am still trying to put on some body mass.”
Rioli is keen to assist the Korin Gamadji Institute and the club’s links with regional Victorian Aboriginal communities, in its Next Generation Academy Program — the Richmond Academy.
He spent seven weeks of his off-season break back home on Melville Island, reconnecting with his family — including his father Bradley, who is Cyril’s first cousin, and his mother Belinda.
He will return later this week to celebrate Christmas with them.
“It’s so good to get back there,” Rioli said.
“I go out fishing, shooting or hunting every day. My dad is always asking me to go out, and I always say yes, even if I have been out training during the day in the hot sun.”
“We know everyone on the Tiwi Islands, so it is good to catch up with them all. It’s a great lifestyle. We live on small blocks surrounded by bush and nature, and it’s pretty laid-back.”
He shifted to Melbourne as a 14-year-old to attend St Patrick’s College in Ballarat, which led him on a pathway to the AFL. Now his younger brother Brayden might follow suit.
“He is probably a bit more into his rugby, but he loves his footy as well,” Daniel said.
“He goes to school in Darwin, and he is thinking of moving down and maybe going to St Pat’s or to school in Melbourne next year.”
FOOTY, THE GREAT MEETING PLACEDANIEL Rioli and Mabior Chol come from vastly contrasting backgrounds, but football has brought them together as the closest of mates.
Rioli grew up in Melville Island, 80km north of Darwin, before attending school for a time in Darwin and moving to St Patrick’s College in Ballarat as a 14-year-old.
Chol was born in war-torn Sudan and spent two years in Egypt after fleeing his homeland, before moving to Queensland with his family in search of a better life when he was eight years old, in 2005.
Both came to Richmond before the 2016 season — Rioli via the national draft and Chol in the rookie draft — and for a time they moved in with coach Damien Hardwick and his family.
“Mabs is a great man,” Rioli said this week.
“We’ve got a great connection, even though we come from different backgrounds.
“We played footy together in the Allies team against the AFL Academy on Grand Final day (in 2015).”
“To get drafted at the same time was great. We’re really good mates now.”
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/daniel-rioli-a-mentor-to-indigenous-community-and-richmond-teammates/news-story/44584d5bfa530e10edfd8bc1acd5d6ad
