Maurice Joseph RIOLI

PLAYER: 1975-90

GAMES: 299: South Fremantle 168; Richmond 188; WA 13.

PREMIERSHIP: South Freamtle 1980

HONOURS: Simpson Medal 1980-81, 83, Norm Smith Medal 1982; All-Australian 1983-84, 86, 88; Richmond fairest and best 1982-83; VFL  team of the year 1983

One of football’s best big-game players, Maurice Rioli’s record is a fair indication of just how good Stephen Michael was.  Rioli, the best player on the ground in three consecutive grand finals, a ichmond fairest and best twice and an All-Australian four times, never won South Fremantle’s fairest and best because the cream at the top of Fremantle Oval was very rich indeed.  The brilliant left-footer from Darwin was outstanding in South Fremantle’s 1980 grand final demolition of Swan Districts.  His first three quarters in the following year, when the Bulldogs were overrun by Claremont, were considered even better.  His cramp in the final term had a major impact on the game.  He was best afield in Richmond’s losing grand final effort against Carlton in 1982 and when he pipped Gary Buckenara for best afield in the 1984 state-of-origin clash against Victoria, Rioli was rated across Australia as the ideal man to have in your team on a big occasion.  Rioli polled 23 votes to finish second to Ross Glendinning in the 1983 Brownlow Medal.