Forty years after his legendary father lit up the September stage for Richmond, exciting, young, small forward Maurice Rioli Jr produced an impressive first-up AFL finals performance in the Tigers’ two-point elimination final loss to Brisbane at the Gabba last Thursday night.

Maurice Rioli Sr, a superstar midfielder, had 19 disposals in his inaugural final with Richmond, which was the 1982 second semi victory over Carlton.

Two weeks later, the then 25-year-old won the Norm Smith Medal for being best on ground in the Tigers’ Grand Final loss to the Blues, finishing the match with another 19 disposals and three crucial goals.

Maurice Jr, who celebrated his 20^th birthday on Thursday (the same birth date as his dad), wasn’t quite as impactful as that against the Lions, but he was a valuable contributor for the Richmond side.

He applied plenty of his trademark intense pressure to the Brisbane backmen, kicked a brilliant goal from 12 disposals all-up, and had the third-most pressure points of all Tiger players on the ground.

That initial September showing by Maurice Jr, at the game’s highest level, highlighted how far he’s come already in the early stages of his AFL career, and how much Yellow and Black barrackers have to look forward to, watching him over the course of the next decade.