In the lead-up to the 2011 Dreamtime at the ‘G’ match, Tony Greenberg talks to a former Tiger star, who hero-worshipped Indigenous football great, Maurice Rioli. 

Paul Broderick’s arrival at Richmond in late 1993, as part of a transfer deal with Fitzroy for then Tiger captain Jeff Hogg, took on extra meaning for the talented, left-foot midfielder.

Broderick, who had played 93 games for the Lions, from 1988-93, grew up barracking for Richmond, and idolising Maurice Rioli.

When ‘Brodders’ landed at Tigerland, he was handed the No. 17 guernsey, which Rioli had worn with such distinction in 118 games, from 1982-87.

“I barracked for the Tigers as a kid, and Maurice was one of my idols.  So, it was great then to come and play at Richmond and to wear Maurice’s number, which Jack (Dyer) had previously made so famous . . . To realise what you’re actually wearing - and what it represented - was a huge privilege,” Broderick said.

Broderick was a star throughout a 169-game career with Richmond from 1994-01, winning the coveted Jack Dyer Medal in 1996 and figuring prominently in the Club’s Best and Fairest award for most of his eight seasons.

He was highly rated for his prolific ball-winning ability, silky skills, creativity and consistency through the midfield, as well as his total football professionalism.

It’s those same attributes which made Maurice Rioli such a standout throughout his time at Tigerland, although the ever-modest Broderick was embarrassed with any comparisons to the man acclaimed as Richmond’s greatest-ever Indigenous player.

“I don’t think I could carry his bags . . . I didn’t have anywhere near the ability that Maurice had,” Broderick said.

“He was a terrific, gifted player, and a real favorite of mine.

 “I just loved his ability to weave through packs, and his delivery by hand and foot to teammates was exquisite.

“Maurice was one of the elite players going around at that time in the competition.  I know he was busting his gut, but he just seemed to do it all so smoothly and easily . . . gliding through packs and weaving his way out of tight situations.  That was such a feature of his game.

“He was able to do things that other players just didn’t have the capabilities of doing, because he was that much further advanced thinking-wise, with his ability to read the game and set himself up in the right positions.  And, that kept him a step ahead of everyone else.

“I didn’t see him play that much live (Broderick grew up in Victorian country town Camperdown), but watching him on TV, I was a huge fan of the way he played.”