It’s one of the most decorated names in football.

From Norm Smith Medals, premierships, and best and fairests, you can bet a Rioli has claimed it.  

With that comes the weight of expectation and pressure, but for Richmond's Maurice Rioli Jnr, he just wants to be the best version of himself.  

“You don’t think about it as much, you just look up to them,” Rioli told Inside the Huddle about living up to the family name.

“You just go out there having fun and playing footy. When you get to a certain level, it starts to hit you a little bit.

“It used to affect me a little bit. We are all different players, and I’m on my own path, just trying to become the best version of me and find my own feet at this level.

“I have looked up to them, and they have all done amazing things in their career and I can go to them for help.”

Rioli’s journey began in the Tiwi Islands, where he grew up kicking the footy alongside his family.

However, his junior footy experience was limited, and it wasn’t until he made the move to Darwin that he started to develop his game.

“A lot of fishing, a lot of hunting, growing up on the Tiwi Islands, and just kicking the footy with all my cousins,” Rioli said.

“Everyone up there loved footy and grew up around each other. I didn’t get to play much juniors when I was younger, but I got to play one year, under 12s under my cousin Shannon Rioli, I think that was the last time I won a flag.

“I then went back to the islands and didn’t play much in my under 16s or under 18s, just growing up playing back home, there wasn’t much of a junior league on the island, it was just senior footy playing against men.

“I was running around with my cousin every day after school, just kicking the footy at the oval or wherever there was space for us to kick the footy.

“I was fortunate enough to go to St. John’s College over there, and that is where I started playing more footy in Darwin. I was fortunate enough to play a few games with St Mary’s footy club, and then I moved down to Scotch College and played a bit of school footy there.

“It was pretty different once I moved down here, and I think having a few Indigenous boys at the school made it easier for me. Their support made me go a long way.

“There is a lot more to that. There were a lot of people who helped me throughout my time here in Melbourne, who got me to where I am, and I’m thankful for them.”

Rioli added he still maintains a strong connection to his culture and family, which helps keep him grounded.

The 23-year-old thanked his mum for providing him with opportunities to pursue his football at the highest level.

“My mum for sacrificing everything, knowing there are a lot of opportunities down here (Melbourne) and once I got down here, the Indigenous boys that were there, Jamarra (Ugle-Hagan), who was in my year, Lachie Johnson, Jimmy Gadsden, they made it easier for me in the boarding house,” Rioli said.

“It’s been very different, not being back home. It’s different being on country than it is away, but I just try to call mum every now and then and catch up with friends and family. That gives me the same feeling of being back home.

“I put myself in those environments and try and feel comfortable.”