Maurice Rioli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maurice Rioli |
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Rioli in 1982
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Maurice Joseph Rioli Tipakalippa | ||
| Date of birth | 1 September 1957 | ||
| Place of birth | Melville Island, Northern Territory | ||
| Date of death | 25 December 2010 (aged 53) | ||
| Place of death | Darwin, Northern Territory | ||
| Original team | St Mary's (NTFL) | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Maurice Joseph Rioli Sr. (born September 1, 1957 – died December 25, 2010) was an amazing Australian rules football player. He played for clubs like St Mary's in the Northern Territory, South Fremantle in Western Australia, and Richmond in Victoria.
Many people say he was one of the best players of his time. Maurice Rioli was one of the first Indigenous Australian footballers to make a big impact in Victorian football. He was even chosen as the centre player for the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Maurice was a very skilled player with quick reflexes and great ball handling. He was known for playing his best in important games. After he stopped playing football, he became a politician in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Later, he worked to help communities on the Tiwi Islands.
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Maurice Rioli's Early Football Days
Starting in the Northern Territory
Maurice Rioli was born into the famous Rioli football family on Melville Island. This island is off the coast of the Northern Territory. He learned to play football at the Garden Point Orphanage on the island.
He went to St John's College, Darwin for his education. In the 1974–75 season, he joined the St Mary's team in Darwin. Football in the Northern Territory is played during the summer, or "wet season."
A scout from the South Fremantle Football Club in Perth saw Maurice when he was just sixteen. The scout convinced him to move to Western Australia to play with his brother. At this time, Maurice was also a great amateur boxer. Some people thought he was good enough to go to the Olympics! He later won state boxing titles.
Playing in Western Australia
Maurice decided to become a professional footballer with South Fremantle. He quickly became known as a brilliant and hard-to-catch centre player. During this time, many talented Aboriginal players in the WAFL caught the eye of scouts from Victorian clubs.
South Fremantle, led by former Richmond player Mal Brown, was a very strong team. They played in three WAFL Grand Finals in a row from 1979 to 1981. They even won a championship in 1980. Maurice won the Simpson Medal as the best player in both the 1980 and 1981 Grand Finals.
Richmond recruited Maurice for the 1982 VFL season. He had played 121 games for South Fremantle between 1975 and 1981.
Making a Big Impact in Victoria
Before Maurice, not many Aboriginal players had long careers in the VFL. When he arrived in 1982, Maurice spoke about the unfair treatment and challenges Indigenous players faced. He chose to ignore much of the racism and focused intensely on his game. His boxing background might have helped him avoid fights on the field. Maurice was always a fair player and rarely got into trouble with the umpires.
Playing for Richmond
Richmond gave Maurice the number 17 jersey, made famous by Jack Dyer. Richmond fans quickly loved their new player. He was known for his amazing dodges, perfect foot passes, and super-fast handballs. He was incredibly good at getting the ball out of crowded groups of players.
Even though he wasn't super fast, his quick thinking was always ahead of the game. He easily adjusted to the faster pace of Victorian football. The Tigers decided to play him in his favourite centre position. This was where Geoff Raines had been the best player for five years. Raines was moved to make space for Rioli, and the change worked well.
Richmond finished the 1982 season at the top of the ladder for the first time since 1974. They earned a spot in the 1982 VFL Grand Final by easily winning their semi-final against Carlton.
Richmond was slightly favoured to win the Grand Final against Carlton. However, even though they were ahead at half-time, the Tigers lost the game. Maurice Rioli made history by winning the Norm Smith Medal as the best player on the field. He was the first Indigenous player and the first player from a losing team to win it. This meant he was best on ground in three Grand Finals in a row!
Soon after, Maurice won the Jack Dyer Medal as Richmond's best and fairest player. This was a great end to his first season. But problems started right away. Raines asked for a contract that matched Rioli's earnings. When he was refused, Raines left the club. Other important players also left due to money problems.
The team quickly struggled after their success in 1982. They finished third-last in 1983. However, Maurice had another amazing season. He won the best and fairest award again and was runner-up for the Brownlow Medal. He was also chosen for the Western Australian and All-Australian teams. He won another Simpson Medal for his state of origin performance.
Maurice was a recognized star and perhaps the best player at the club. He continued to shine even in a struggling team. He played Gaelic football for Australia against Ireland. He was always chosen to play for Western Australia in state of origin matches. After finishing second in Richmond's best and fairest in 1985, it seemed his time there might end.
In 1985–86, the new owner of the Sydney Swans, Geoff Edelsten, was signing many players with huge contracts. Maurice Rioli was announced as one of these new signings. But the salary cap rules stopped him from leaving for Sydney. After rumours he might join Essendon or go back to South Fremantle, he returned to the Tigers in mid-1986.
Maurice played inconsistently through 1986 and 1987. Richmond finished last in 1987, which was only the third time in their history. Maurice captained Western Australia in a state game that year against his teammate Dale Weightman, who led Victoria.
Returning to South Fremantle and Later Career
After the 1987 season, Maurice Rioli was 30 years old. He had played 118 games for the Tigers. He decided his time in Melbourne was over and went back to South Fremantle. He was made captain for the 1988 and 1989 seasons.
While he was away, football in Western Australia had changed a lot. The West Coast Eagles team had been formed. Maurice chose to play at the lower level. The football seasons were scheduled so he could also be captain-coach of the Waratahs club in Darwin during the summer.
He was still good enough to be named an All-Australian for a third time after the 1988 Adelaide Bicentennial Carnival. Maurice played in the 1989 WAFL Grand Final, but South Fremantle lost to Claremont. In 1990, he finished playing in Perth after 166 games for South Fremantle. However, he kept playing in Darwin until 1991. After that, he coached the Waratahs for two years without playing.
In 1993, the AFL invited him to present the Norm Smith Medal at the Grand Final. It was fitting that the medal was won by another Aboriginal player from the Territory, Michael Long (Essendon). Long had played at St Mary's in Darwin, where Maurice had started his senior football career a generation earlier.
Honors and Recognition
In 2004, Maurice Rioli was added to the WA Football Hall of Fame. In 2016, he was added to the Australian Football Hall of Fame after his death. The main grandstand at the Marrara Oval in Darwin is named in his honor. In 2018, he was given a Richmond life membership after his death.
Politics and Community Work
| Years | Term | Electoral division | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–1994 | 6th | Arafura | Australian Labor Party | |
| 1994–1997 | 7th | Arafura | Australian Labor Party | |
| 1997–2001 | 8th | Arafura | Australian Labor Party | |
After moving back to Darwin with his family, Maurice Rioli was elected as a politician. He represented the area of Arafura in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for the Labor Party in 1992. He held this position until 2001, when he retired from politics.
Even though he played football for almost ten years in Perth and only six years in Melbourne, Maurice Rioli is still one of the most famous people from the Northern Territory. He was a pioneer for Indigenous Australian football players at the highest level of the game. He was also a respected leader among Aboriginal players.
After leaving politics, Maurice worked as a Community Services manager for the Tiwi Islands Council until he passed away. He also spent his personal time helping and guiding young footballers.
The Rioli Football Family
The Rioli family is one of the most well-known families in the history of Australian rules football. In 1972, Maurice's older brother, Sebastian Rioli, was one of the first Aboriginal footballers from the Northern Territory to move to Western Australia to play for South Fremantle.
Maurice followed in 1975 and became the most successful footballer among his eight brothers. His brothers Cyril Jr. and Willie also played league football for South Fremantle. John, Manny, and Laurence also moved to Fremantle but returned to Darwin without playing senior football. Willie was drafted by Hawthorn in 1990 but did not play in the AFL.
Maurice is the uncle of former Hawthorn player Cyril Rioli (Cyril Jr.'s son). He is also the uncle of current West Coast Eagles player Willie Rioli (Willie Sr.'s son). He is the uncle of former Essendon player Dean Rioli (Sebastian's son). He is the great-uncle of Richmond player Daniel Rioli. Maurice's son, Maurice Rioli Jr., was drafted by Richmond in 2020 and played his first game in 2021.
Maurice Rioli's Passing
On Christmas Day 2010, Maurice Rioli collapsed and died at a family barbecue in Darwin. He was 53 years old and had suffered a heart attack. A few days later, the Northern Territory Government announced they would hold a state funeral for him.
Tributes to Maurice Rioli
After his death was announced, many people from all over the country, especially in the football world, shared their sadness. Brendon Gale, Richmond's chief executive, sent his condolences. He said: "Maurice was an incredibly important person in the game as a player. He also played a leading role for Aboriginal Australians. He will be remembered as one of the greatest players in the Tigers' proud history."
Former teammate and club legend Dale Weightman said: "Maurice was the best of the best. You couldn't tackle him, you couldn't touch him, but he was also a great tackler. He did so much for Aboriginal players. He was always thinking about his people."
On behalf of the AFL, chief executive officer Andrew Demetriou said: "He was a wonderfully skilled player who could control a game. He was the trailblazer for footballers from the Northern Territory to make their mark in the VFL and the AFL. He continued to serve his community long after his playing days, with his work in public life."
Former teammate and well-known AFL commentator Brian Taylor spoke about Maurice's skills on the field. He said: "He was absolutely electrifying... He was just one of the greatest natural talents I have ever seen. He was the best tackler in his day and is still the best tackler I have ever seen." Richmond legend Francis Bourke, Maurice's first coach at the Tigers, and former teammate Geoff Raines also paid tribute to Maurice after his death.
Maurice Rioli's Funerals
Maurice Rioli's state funeral was held at St Mary's Star of the Sea Cathedral in Darwin on January 7, 2011. It was a Catholic service led by the Bishop of Darwin, Eugene Hurley. Hundreds of Aboriginal mourners also showed their respect through traditional "sorry business". They painted their faces, used clapping sticks, and wailed during the ceremony. Many football figures, including famous AFL coach Kevin Sheedy, attended the service.
A traditional funeral for Maurice was held at Garden Point on Melville Island on January 10, 2011. His 75-year-old father, Cyril Rioli senior, led the ceremony. Hundreds of people from the Tiwi Islands attended. Family members, including his nephew and Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli, painted their bodies. They danced and chanted their family's Dreaming story of the turtle to say goodbye to Maurice. Cyril said he remembered his uncle more for his work on the Tiwi Islands than for his football achievements. Other family groups danced their own Dreaming stories. Wailing men and women threw themselves on his coffin during the three-hour ceremony. After the funeral, mourners carried Maurice's coffin to the cemetery, where he was buried near a mango tree.
