RIOLI, Dean

Dean Rioli, originally from the Tiwi Islands, played 100 injury-interrupted games between 1999 and 2006. He had played with South Fremantle in the WAFL, winning a premiership in 1997.

He made his Essendon debut in 1999 in Round 3 after being elevated from the Rookie list when James Hird suffered a recurrence of stress fractures in his foot. He made an immediate impact and played 17 games for the year. He had caught the selectors' attention by kicking eight goals in the first half of his first game in the Reserves against Richmond.

Rioli was a dangerous half-forward with great poise and the ability to find space. He was named the Club's equal Best First Year Player in 1999 and was a nominee for the Norwich Rising Star award in which he ultimately finished second.

He was sidelined for 11 weeks in 2000 with a collar bone injury and then re-injured his shoulder in Round 21 against the Bulldogs destroying his chance of playing in that year's winning Grand Final.

He managed to string together 17 games in 2001 showing the sublime skills that thrilled Bomber supporters. He kicked some memorable goals but also made a great contribution when pushed into the mid-field. He was a member of the 2001 Grand Final team that lost to Brisbane.

Injuries and suspensions kept Rioli to 15 games in season 2002 yet he played very well across the half-back line with some stints in the midfield.

In 2003, he was one of the Club's most consistent players, played in 18 games and and finished eighth in Essendon's 2003 Best and Fairest.

2005 was a season where Rioli showed his importance in the Essendon team with his skill and aggression and dominance across the middle of the ground. Another positive sign was in Round 16 against Collingwood, when he was dropped into the back 50 with impressive results as he was able to stop many Collingwood attacks.

He finished with 11 games for the year and chronic knee problems which have blighted much of his career again limited his appearances.

In 2006 Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said he was keen to see Rioli play the four games needed to reach the coveted 100 game milestone, ensuring his name would be added to his number 43 locker, and any sons or daughters would be eligible to play with Essendon via the father-son/daughter ruling.

He nearly didn't make it due to his crumbling knees and a hamstring injury, complicated by a contractual dispute before Round 20 which looked set to threaten his last few weeks at the Club. However he played in both Rounds 20 and 21 (in addition to Rounds 4 and 6) to take his season tally to that year to four games and his career tally to 100. But his bad luck with injury continued and he ended his career by breaking his wrist in his last game.

In the end Rioli will be remembered for his silky skills and ability to read the game, as well as a career cut short by injury.

Following his retirement, he has worked in a number of organisations to develop culturally-safe environments for the Indigenous workforce. He is the Managing Director of Bunji Hire, established in late 2019 a majority owned Aboriginal business offering a range of plant and equipment to clients across Australia. He is also the Deputy Chair for Bridging the Gap Foundation, on the Board for Melbourne Indigenous Transition School and the current Head Coach for the Moonee Valley Premier League Women’s team.

He joined the Essendon Board in November 2022 and in 2023 was appointed chair of Essendon’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council.

Dean was selected in South Fremantle's Indigenous Team of the Century beside his father, Sebastian, and his uncle, Richmond great Maurice Rioli. He is a member of a great AFL football family: Maurice snr was a Richmond champion, Maurice jr, made his debut with Richmond in 2021, Cyril, played in four premierships with Hawthorn, Daniel won three premierships with Richmond, and Willie played with West Coast before moving to Port Adelaide in 2023. Other members of the family have played many games with South Fremantle, the Tiwi Bombers and St Mary's in the Northern Territory.