Dean Rioli
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth | 20 May 1978, |
| Recruited from | South Fremantle Football Club (WAFL) |
| Height and weight | 180cm / 99kg |
| Playing career¹ | |
| Debut | Round 3, 1999, Essendon Football Club vs. Sydney Swans, at |
| Team(s) | Essendon Football Club (1999-2006)
100 games, 91 goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 2006 season | |
| Career highlights | |
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Dean Rioli (born May 20, 1978) is an indigenous former Australian rules football player who spent his whole professional career with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League.
The nephew of Maurice Rioli, the Richmond Football Club champion of the 1980s, Rioli grew up on the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory, but was recruited from the South Fremantle Football Club in the 1997 AFL Draft.
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[edit] AFL career
He is renowned for his goal sense, silky skills and his ability to play well even when appallingly overweight and unfit. Rioli has had ongoing injury problems (particularly knee-related) for many years, severely limiting his games played and the level of fitness he was able to attain.
During his final season in 2006, Rioli battled hard through injury problems to reach the 4 games he needed to reach the 100-game milestone. This was of great importance to Rioli.
[edit] Retirement from AFL
Dean Rioli played his last game for the Essendon Football Club on 26 August 2006, where he finally played his 100th game, flying over more than 40 relatives from his homeland. This enabled the Bombers to pick up any of Rioli's future children under the father/son rule, while at the same time he has his name engraved onto his locker at the club. If it was not for the good graces of the club it is unlikely Rioli would have been carried to the 100 mark due to his injury-riddled career, or if the Bombers had been in a position to make the finals.
In actual fact Rioli had as much talent and skills, and achieved near the same level of impact as former Captain James Hird. Unfortunately his weight-control problems prevented him from continuing a very promising career.
[edit] Post AFL career
Following his retirement, Rioli returned to the Northern Territory to play in the Northern Territory Football League with the Tiwi Bombers, where he became a solid contributor and on-field leader.
At the present time he is Assistant Coach at the Aberfeldie Football Club, in the Essendon District Football League. He began as Assistant Coach in September 2007 in preparation for Season 2008, having previously performed the same role at the Keilor Park Football Club the prior year.
