Daniel Rioli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daniel Rioli
Rioli with Richmond in March 2017
Personal information
Date of birth	(1997-04-16) 16 April 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth	Fremantle, Western Australia
Original team	North Ballarat Rebels (TAC Cup)/St Marys (NTFL)/East Point Football Club
Draft	No. 15, 2015 national draft
Debut	Round 1, 2016, Richmond v. Carlton, at MCG
Position(s)	Half-back
Club information
Current club	Gold Coast
Number	17
Career highlights
3× AFL premiership player: 2017, 2019, 2020 Jack Dyer Medal 2024 AFL Goal of the Year: 2017 22under22 team: 2017 AFL Rising Star nominee: 2016 Richmond Life Member: 2017

Daniel Rioli (born 16 April 1997) is a professional Australian rules football player. He plays for the Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL). Before joining Gold Coast in 2024, Rioli was a three-time premiership winner with Richmond. In 2017, he also won the award for the AFL's Goal of the Year.

Daniel Rioli's Football Journey

Early Life and Junior Days

Daniel Rioli was born in Fremantle, Western Australia. He grew up in Pirlangimpi on Melville Island. This island is part of the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory. He went to high school at St John's Catholic College in Darwin. There he played football for the St Mary's Football Club.

At age 14, Daniel moved to Victoria. He lived at St Patricks College in Ballarat. In 2015, his school team won the state schools championship. That same year, he played nine games for the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup. He even kicked four goals in one important game.

Daniel also played for the Northern Territory in the 2015 Under-18 championships. He played three matches for his team. Later, he joined the Under-18s Allies. He kicked four goals in a match before the 2015 AFL Grand Final. At the 2015 Draft Combine, Daniel showed off his speed. He was second fastest in the 20-meter sprint. He was also first in the 30-meter repeat sprint tests.

Starting His AFL Career (2016-2017)

First Season: A Rising Star (2016)

Richmond picked Daniel Rioli as their first choice in the 2015 AFL draft. He was the 15th player chosen overall. Daniel played his first AFL game in Round 1 of the 2016 AFL season. His team won against Carlton at the MCG. He kicked his first AFL goal in Round 3.

Daniel played 10 of the first 12 games that season. He kicked six goals during that time. In Round 22, he was nominated for the 2016 AFL Rising Star award. He had 16 disposals, four tackles, and two goals in that game. By the end of his first year, Daniel played 18 matches. He kicked 13 goals, which was the sixth-best for his club. He also ranked sixth for tackles. He won an award as Richmond's best first-year player.

Premiership Glory and Goal of the Year (2017)

Rioli gathers the ball in round 13 of the 2017 season

In the 2017 season, Daniel Rioli was a key player for Richmond. He helped his team win their first five games. He kicked eight goals in those first five rounds. In Round 3, he kicked an amazing goal from the boundary line. This goal was nominated for "Goal of the Week." His captain, Trent Cotchin, praised Daniel's leadership. Coach Damien Hardwick even thought Daniel could play in the midfield later on.

By mid-season, Daniel had played all 11 games. He had kicked 12 goals. In Round 19, he kicked a career-best three goals. All of them came in the first quarter. Daniel played in his first final game against Geelong. The next week, he had a fantastic game. He kicked a career-high four goals. This helped Richmond reach their first Grand Final since 1982. His uncle, Maurice Rioli, played in that 1982 Grand Final.

Daniel became a premiership player in 2017. His team won the Grand Final by 48 points against Adelaide. After the game, he found out he had a broken foot. This needed surgery and a few months of rest. At the end of the season, Daniel was named in the 22 Under 22 team. This team features the best young players in the league. He also won the league's Goal of the Year award for his Round 3 snap goal.

Overcoming Challenges and More Wins (2018-2020)

Bouncing Back from Injury (2018)

Daniel missed all of the 2018 pre-season training. His foot injury from the Grand Final was still causing problems. He even needed a second surgery. He finally returned to full training after Round 5. Daniel played his first game back in Round 9 with the club's reserve team. He played three more games at that level.

Daniel returned to AFL football in Round 13. He had a great game, setting a new career-high with eight tackles. He was named one of the best players. Two weeks later, he kicked two goals in a win. In Round 20, he played his 50th AFL match. The next week, he had a career-best 25 disposals. Daniel played in the finals series. He kicked three goals in a win against Hawthorn. He played in the preliminary final, but Richmond lost. Daniel finished the season having played 12 matches. He set new personal bests in many stats like goals, disposals, and tackles.

Second Premiership Win (2019)

Before the 2019 season, Daniel trained as a part-time midfielder. He played well in the pre-season games. He kicked his first goal of the season in Round 2. In Round 3, he kicked three goals. He got bruised ribs in that game but didn't miss a match. In Round 7, he had more injuries to his thigh, hip, and ribs. He missed one game because of this.

Daniel returned to AFL for the Dreamtime at the 'G match in Round 10. He wore a special jersey he designed with his parents. It showed his family and the Tiwi Islands. He played well in the finals. He kicked two goals in a big win against the Brisbane Lions. He suffered a minor ankle injury but kept playing. In the Grand Final against Greater Western Sydney, Daniel was "fantastic." He helped his team win by 89 points. This earned him his second premiership in three years.

Three-Time Champion (2020)

Daniel played in both pre-season games in 2020. He kicked three goals in the first game of the season against Carlton. This game was played without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic. The season was shorter, with fewer rounds and shorter quarters. The AFL season was paused for 11 weeks.

When the season restarted, Daniel played in Round 5. He kicked one goal. He was dropped from the senior team in Round 10. But he returned in Round 11. In Round 13, he played in the Dreamtime in Darwin match. This was his first AFL game in his home, the Northern Territory. He had 16 disposals and kicked a goal. Daniel played in all the final regular season games. He kicked two goals in a qualifying final loss. He helped his team win the semi-final and preliminary final.

Daniel became Richmond's youngest three-time premiership player. He helped his team win the Grand Final by 31 points against Geelong. He played 18 of 21 possible matches that year.

New Role and New Team (2021 Onwards)

Changing Positions (2021)

Daniel had an ankle injury during the 2021 pre-season. But he recovered to play in the first game. In Round 3, he was a medical substitute. He came on to replace an injured player. He was dropped again the next week. In Round 5, he kicked two goals. In Round 6, he played his 100th AFL game.

Later in the season, Daniel was tried in a new role. He started playing as a half-back in the VFL (reserve league). He did very well in this new position. He was then moved to Richmond's AFL backline in Round 17. He played in this new role for the rest of the season. He had 20 or more disposals in three games. Richmond did not make the finals that year.

Joining the Gold Coast Suns

After the 2024 AFL season, Daniel Rioli asked to be traded. He wanted to join the Gold Coast Suns. He was traded to the Suns on the last day of the trade period. He joined his former coach, Damien Hardwick, at the Suns.

How Daniel Rioli Plays

Daniel Rioli mainly plays as a half-back. This means he helps move the ball out of defense. He is known for his quick speed and how fast he can run with the ball. For his first five and a half seasons, Daniel played as a small forward. He was praised for putting pressure on the other team's defenders. He was good at making them turn over the ball.

Career Stats

Updated to the end of round 23, 2022.

Awards and Achievements

Team

• 3× AFL premiership player: 2017, 2019, 2020
• McClelland Trophy (Richmond): 2018

Individual

• Jack Dyer Medal: 2024
• 22under22 team: 2017
• AFL Goal of the Year: 2017
• AFL Rising Star nominee: 2016

Daniel Rioli's Family Connections

Daniel Rioli is part of a famous football family. He is the fourth person in the Rioli family to play in the AFL. His uncles, Dean and Maurice, played before him. His cousin, Cyril, also played. His older cousin, Willie Rioli, started playing in 2018.

Daniel is also a cousin to former Essendon player Michael Long. Michael's son, Jake, and nephew, Ben, are also related. Daniel's younger brother, Brayden, is also a talented football player. He is part of Essendon's Next Generation Academy. Brayden also went to Daniel's old school, St Patrick's College in Ballarat.

For his first two years in the AFL, Daniel lived with his coach, Damien Hardwick, and his family.