Daniel Rioli’s impressive transition from small forward to rebounding defender continued at the MCG yesterday.

The triple premiership Tiger produced the best performance of his brief stint so far as a half-back flanker, finishing with 19 disposals, five intercepts, seven tackles and 282 metres gained in Richmond’s 38-point loss to Geelong.

He averages 17.6 disposals per match in his three games across the half-back line and appears right at home there.

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Rioli’s fine form in his new role within the Tigers’ team has grabbed the attention of AFL football commentator and former Melbourne star Garry Lyon.

“I saw Daniel Rioli play yesterday . . . he looked like he had been playing as an attacking half-back flanker all his life. He’s been there for three weeks,” Lyon said on SEN.

“All of a sudden he’s gone from playing as a forward pocket or half-forward trying to get a crumb, trying to get something that Jack (Riewoldt) or (Tom) Lynch won’t get, and it’s hard work.

“He goes to the backline, you walk away going, ‘What about that kid’?”