Dean Rioli
Encyclopedia
Dean Rioli 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
.
During his final season in 2006, Rioli battled injury problems and only played four games.
with the Tiwi Bombers, where he became a solid contributor and on-field leader.
In October 2008 Rioli was appointed senior coach for 2009 at the Aberfeldie Football Club, in the Essendon District Football League
. Prior to this he was an assistant coach, a role he also performed in 2006 at the Keilor Park Football Club. Rioli continued as senior coach at Aberfeldie in 2010 but stepped down at the end of the home and away season. He was succeeded by John McMillan who has been announced as the new Senior Coach of the club.
In a work move very dear to his heart, Dean runs the company DRAES which stands for Dean Rioli Aboriginal Employment Services. Based in Essendon
, a suburb of Melbourne, it specialises in finding the right type of job for indigenous people.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player who spent his whole professional career with the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
The nephew of Maurice Rioli
Maurice Rioli
Maurice Rioli was an Australian rules football player best known for his time spent with the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League...
, the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
champion of the 1980s, Rioli grew up on the Tiwi Islands
Tiwi Islands
The Tiwi Islands are part of Australia's Northern Territory, north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea joins the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island and Bathurst Island, with a combined area of ....
in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, but was recruited from the South Fremantle Football Club
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
in the 1997 AFL Draft
1997 AFL Draft
The 1997 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1997 Australian Football League season. A pre-season draft was also held prior to the 1998 season....
.
AFL career
He is renowned for his goal sense, silky skills and his ability to play well even when overweight and unfit. Rioli 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 injury problems and only played four games.
Retirement from AFL
Dean Rioli played his last game for the Essendon Football Club on 26 August 2006. It was also his 100th AFL game.Post AFL career
Following his retirement, Rioli returned to the Northern Territory to play in the Northern Territory Football LeagueNorthern Territory Football League
The Northern Territory Football League is an 8 team Australian rules football semi-professional league operating in Darwin in the Northern Territory.The premier grade is the largest Australian rules football league in the Northern Territory...
with the Tiwi Bombers, where he became a solid contributor and on-field leader.
In October 2008 Rioli was appointed senior coach for 2009 at the Aberfeldie Football Club, in the Essendon District Football League
Essendon District Football League
The Essendon District Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, which was established in 1930.The EDFL consists of 24 senior clubs, 10 clubs in A Grade and 14 clubs in B Grade...
. Prior to this he was an assistant coach, a role he also performed in 2006 at the Keilor Park Football Club. Rioli continued as senior coach at Aberfeldie in 2010 but stepped down at the end of the home and away season. He was succeeded by John McMillan who has been announced as the new Senior Coach of the club.
In a work move very dear to his heart, Dean runs the company DRAES which stands for Dean Rioli Aboriginal Employment Services. Based in Essendon
Essendon
Essendon may mean:Australia*Electoral district of Essendon*Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington*Essendon, Victoria**Essendon railway station**Essendon Airport*Essendon, Barons*Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League...
, a suburb of Melbourne, it specialises in finding the right type of job for indigenous people.