Player Watch #17 Maurice Rioli Jnr Re-Signed 2026
- Thread starter Sterge
- Start date
- Tagged users None
- Jan 7, 2010
- 12,993
- 38,156
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- Adelaide Strikers
Have I entered the Noah Cummerbund thread by mistake?
I think you need to re-read my post. I never said that we needed 'defensive forwards exclusively'. What I said is that our forwardline needs balance. If we have a forward 'team' of unaccountable offensive players then we will suffer from the ball easily transitioning and rebounding out as quickly as it goes in. Castagna and Rioli were more defensive forwards who could switch to offense where Bulter was the opposite. You need two way players and you need everyone to buy into defense as much as offense but if you have a team of forward players who are too much the same, it fails.
Balance is the key.
Seems that way, doesn't it!
Fair enough, but we always use our players/team as a benchmark. I don't see this being used in other sides, this defensive/offensive label or type. Brisbane certainly don't use defensive first forwards at all. Collingwood similar. Most sides in fact.
I think Hardwick followed that line of thinking too long to the detriment of the team. I don't think Rioli and Castagna were defensive forwards primarily. Castagna took the most marks in our forward line behind Jack one year and 3 years in a row kicked 26/27 goals. He was very dynamic until he was pushed up the ground and lost his confidence and confined to play the one-dimensional role. Rioli was always creative. The pressure was distributed pretty evenly across the board.
When we started going backwards somewhat, Hardwick tried to make that our mantra, and defined roles more specifically to certain players and to the detriment of others. Rioli was being delisted by some on this board until moved to half back. Aarts and Mansell were and are never good enough as forwards. MRJ has been turned completely into a one-dimensional player. Cumberland on the outer because of it.
It is the job of the coach to ensure all players work hard defensively, which includes Martin and Bolton and whomever else is considered mainly offensive, just like in our premiership years. It is also important to have those players think offensively as well, look what Bobby Hill just did, what Cameron has been doing for years.
For us, Baker when he plays forward, plays a rounded game, he creates goals, kicks a few and does all the hard stuff like smothers, hard ball gets and chasing. Edwards was a great forward who likewise did it all.
- Apr 10, 2013
- 6,951
- 17,760
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- East Fremantle
Just needs to get fit... Simple.
No one will really know how good he is, unless he gets fit. otherwise we are al just guessing
No one will really know how good he is, unless he gets fit. otherwise we are al just guessing
Morro
Brownlow Medallist
Agree with this but I also don’t think he’s a small forward.
Morro
Brownlow Medallist
Sounds like he is fighting with Mansell for the pressure forward spot, but Mansell has had a huge pre season and its his to lose.
- May 23, 2017
- 1,730
- 8,303
- AFL Club
- Richmond
I don't see it. Thought I saw a glimpse when he did some x-factor things with chase downs, but even that's gone out of his game.
Not fit enough. Not skilled enough. If he didn't have the name Rioli I doubt he even would been drafted.
- Oct 29, 2017
- 22,444
- 44,058
- AFL Club
- Richmond
Concerned after 30 or so games. I guess another 20 or so we will see where he stands.
Like others I am a bit concerned about his lack of professionalism, but he still has time to learn and mature out of that. Other than that he would be as good as anyone in the AFL at what he does. You cannot teach that type of chase and tackle instinct. Some of the the plays he pulled off as a 20yo against Collingwood and Geelong in 2022 are enough to tell me he is 100% good enough talent wise. I am a big fan and remain confident he should get there in the end.
zero expectations
new coach/role maybe
so far apart from a few glimpses in 22 not at the level
will need to work his arse off, was always gonna get listed so might have coasted a bit and this year is make or break time
he's not the wide eyed kid anymore needs to step the f up lose the gut for a start shiiiiii
new coach/role maybe
so far apart from a few glimpses in 22 not at the level
will need to work his arse off, was always gonna get listed so might have coasted a bit and this year is make or break time
he's not the wide eyed kid anymore needs to step the f up lose the gut for a start shiiiiii
- Jul 8, 2017
- 25,321
- 74,040
- AFL Club
- Richmond
You would have thought this would be motivation in the off season but he came back to the club out of shape, again.
yeah hence the zero expectations
Is there? He's fast and can tackle, but his kicking is pretty average and he doesn't exactly have the Rioli skills or goal sense.
Even Dan Rioli who has exquisite footskills struggled to make it forward. I'm not sure I hold much hope for Maurice.
Let's face it if his name was Maurice Jones he'd probably be in the delist pile for 2024 and no one would really care.
- Apr 30, 2016
- 2,478
- 8,337
- AFL Club
- Richmond
As bad as Castagna was, sadly MRJ isn't a fraction the player Castagna was. Castagna at least could find the pill, take marks and guard space and kick almost 1 goal a game. MRJ averaged 2-3 effective disposals whilst getting carved up by his direct opponent. Couldn't buy a goal even in magoos and squandered so many sitters the brothers tried to spoon feed him.
Coulthard showed more potential in his debut quarter than MRJ did all last year and if Mansell keeps busting his arse he deserves to be rewarded as does Judson. Bolton's been told his a fwd, Cumberland deserves his spot. Sonsie, Prestia etc need to rest fwd. I don't see MRJ even as an emergency option. Let him prove himself in magoos and if he can't at least dominate there in his 4th year the bombers can have him eoy.
- Apr 27, 2014
- 32,462
- 63,521
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- The Fanbois Farters
I'm more concerned with some of our older heroes TBH.
MRJ has the weight of his name on his shoulders, I think that is weighing him down quit a bit.
I think as he gets older he will deal with it a bit better.
As it is now though I would sacrifice a little of his tenacity for a more creative player up forward.
I think as he gets older he will deal with it a bit better.
As it is now though I would sacrifice a little of his tenacity for a more creative player up forward.
Hopefully with the less structured forward setup the kid is allowed to play on instincts rather than worry about guarding grass and militant structures.
The small forward role under Dimma has been a death sentence. Then you see gumby smalls at other clubs that are actually allowed to play with some freedom kick plenty of goals.
The small forward role under Dimma has been a death sentence. Then you see gumby smalls at other clubs that are actually allowed to play with some freedom kick plenty of goals.
yeah 100% it would be a big set of shoes to fill, reckon you're right
I do have fears that he won't make the cut, and I feel he really has to show something this year. That said I am happy we have given him the chance. The Rioli name is a famous name at Richmond and in football, and I would have hated to have missed out on a star as at least three Riolis have been.
Maurice was a 50+ pick in probably the weakest draft ever. He was never likely to ever be what we would legitimately call a star. He just needs to get to his best level consistently and he will prove a very useful player.
Similar threads
