Daniel Rioli’s impressive transition from small forward to rebounding defender continued at the MCG yesterday.
The triple premiership Tiger produced the best performance of his brief stint so far as a half-back flanker, finishing with 19 disposals, five intercepts, seven tackles and 282 metres gained in Richmond’s 38-point loss to Geelong.
He averages 17.6 disposals per match in his three games across the half-back line and appears right at home there.
Rioli’s fine form in his new role within the Tigers’ team has grabbed the attention of AFL football commentator and former Melbourne star Garry Lyon.
“I saw Daniel Rioli play yesterday . . . he looked like he had been playing as an attacking half-back flanker all his life. He’s been there for three weeks,” Lyon said on SEN.
“All of a sudden he’s gone from playing as a forward pocket or half-forward trying to get a crumb, trying to get something that Jack (Riewoldt) or (Tom) Lynch won’t get, and it’s hard work.
“He goes to the backline, you walk away going, ‘What about that kid’?”
