Maurice Rioli Jr is making impressive progress in his fourth season of AFL football with Richmond.
The 21-year-old, playing his 33rd senior game, was one of the Tigers’ best in the ANZAC Day Eve blockbuster against Melbourne, finishing with 14 disposals, seven marks, two goals, five score involvements, three inside-50s, three intercepts, four tackles and 258 metres gained.
In his past four games this season, Rioli is averaging 12.0 disposals, 4.5 contested possessions, 1.2 goals, 4.7 score involvements and 193.5 metres gained.
“He looks powerful, he looks dangerous around goals, and he’s had more consistent output,” was Richmond coach Adem Yze’s assessment of Rioli’s development in his post-match media conference.
“But he’ll review his game and it’ll be the same sort of thing.
“His pressure and intensity and work-rate are very good, and he did finish a couple of times today, but they’ll be opportunities that he’s going to look at and go, ‘Kozzy’ Pickett finishes his work. And that’s where he’s got to get to.
“He’s aspiring to be one of the key small forwards in the competition and his effort and intensity is getting there.
“We’ve just got to give him some opportunity.
“He is improving every week which, as a coach, is all we can ask.”
