The Richmond Football Club and Northern Territory Government will honour the memory of Indigenous football icon Maurice Rioli by establishing an education scholarship in his name.

The Maurice Rioli Scholarship will reward outstanding students from Tiwi College who demonstrate outstanding performance in the Clontarf program each year.

Three students selected by Tiwi College who excel in attendance and complete a Certificate 2 in sport and recreation will travel to Melbourne to join Richmond for one week of training and coaching.

The students will also attend a Richmond game, and scheduled sessions with Richmond recruiting, coaching, health and fitness and welfare staff.

The announcement was made at TIO Stadium today by Northern Territory Acting Chief Minister Delia Lawrie, and Richmond CEO Brendon Gale.

“The Richmond Football Club is proud to be working with the Northern Territory Government to establish the Maurice Rioli Scholarship,” Gale said.

“Maurice was an incredible footballer and outstanding community leader, and we are determined to honour his fantastic contribution to Richmond and the Northern Territory community.

“The scholarship will reward success in education, which is one of the underpinning values of Richmond’s Korin Gamadji Institute.”

Rioli played 118 games and kicked 80 goals for Richmond between 1982 and 1987, and won the Club Best and Fairest award twice (1982 and 1983).

He won the Norm Smith Medal in the 1982 Grand Final, was named All-Australian three times and is a representative in the Indigenous Team of the Century.

“Maurice is a hero right across the Territory, he paved the way for other Indigenous footballers and politicians,” Ms Lawrie said.

“Throughout his life Maurice worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Indigenous Territorians, particularly inspiring young men on the Tiwi islands to embrace football and education.

“It is a fitting tribute to this great Territorian that together with Richmond Football Club we have established a scholarship which will recognise and reward three young men from Tiwi College.”