SMALL forward Junior Rioli is preparing to face off against his former club this Friday in a match simulation in Perth.
The 27-year-old won an AFL Premiership with West Coast but is making the most of his fresh start, following his move to South Australia at the end of 2022.
Moments before boarding the team flight to Perth on Thursday, Rioli spoke on the recent change in his preparation, who has taken him under his wing at Port Adelaide and how his cousin, former Hawthorn forward Cyril Rioli, has supported his growth.
Rioli on Friday’s trial match against West Coast
“It's a bit different (taking on my old team), but I'm just excited to get back over there and see some familiar faces and hopefully catch up with people that had a lot to do with my footy career over there. It will be good to get a good run against another opposition. Playing against ourselves the last couple of weeks, it's been good at stages but it's still scrappy at the same time. It’s good to play against an opposition team that doesn’t understand your structures and you get to figure out where you’re at and where the team's at. I’m grateful I’ve still got a good connection over there and just looking forward to catching up with them and seeing them again.”
Rioli on his move to Port Adelaide
“I'm lucky coming to this club. This club's got really high expectations. Going to the Hall of Fame (event) last night and meeting so many great legends, guys that have played in eight flags, five flags, stuff like that, I think it's expected here at this club. That's why I’m grateful to come over here and be involved with the group we’ve got now. I think we can push towards (the Premiership) and being at that top level. It's going to be a long season and whoever's list is strongest will get there.”
Rioli on the change in his preparation
“Being in the system for so long you learn to listen to the guys that understand what they're doing a bit more, so people like the dietician and weights coaches and having feedback from them. I used to shy away from that. I used to think I could (rely only) on talent. I’ve leaned more into trying to get my body into good shape to stay longer on the park and maximise my footy ability. I focus more on the gym and what I’m eating at home and stuff like that. That’s what has helped me not pull up tight at training and I’ve been able to recover quicker by having more muscle on. I’ve learned that from being at great clubs like West Coast and Port.
“I missed a lot of footy. I was out for 18 months so just learning a lot of stuff while I wasn’t playing footy, watching a lot of YouTube and documentaries about great athletes. I learned while not playing footy that I wanted to get back and get to that level. I’ve got a long way to go but I’ve learned to look after my body a lot more.”
Rioli on who has taken him under their wing
“I’m lucky. I’ve got Jeremy Finlayson, Sam Powell-Pepper and Aliir – they’re the main ones but everyone has welcomed me in. There are guys in the locker room that I sit next to (as well). Tom Clurey took me out for dinner, so stuff like that I’m grateful for and just looking forward to winning games with them.”
Rioli on cousin Cyril Rioli’s support
“I’ve got a lot of relatives back home like Cyril who I’ve been able to get feedback from and train with. (Cyril and I) play the same type of way. Training with him I knew I could maximise that and get all the knowledge off him. We don’t talk about football (too much), we pretty much just train. We don’t talk about contracts when we train, we're just in the present together. That's a good thing in our family.”
Rioli on his young teammates
“I feel like we’ve got a great list and a lot of guys that are training the house down. A lot of younger guys coming through hat haven't played a lot of senior football that I’m very excited to hopefully play alongside. Guys like Jackson Mead and Dante (Visentini), Francis (Evans), Hugh Jackson. Young boys like that who haven't played a lot of senior footy that I feel like will have a good impact this year.”
