HAWTHORN’S Cyril Rioli is the clear favourite to pick up the coveted Rising Star award at the end of the season. Even before being nominated, the 18-year-old was close to topping the odds. But if you ask him about his chances, or what it’s like to be the bookies’ favourite, you won’t get much of a response. This teenager just wants to play football. Anything else is a bonus.

“I just like my footy so it doesn’t really matter to me. I’ll just keep it in the back of my mind,” Rioli said.

“Coming into the season I didn’t even think I was going to get a game and now it’s all happening.”

But if you consider his family background, his speedy rise in the AFL ranks is hardly surprising. From good football stock, his family tree boasts the names Dean and Maurice Rioli as well as Essendon legend Michael Long. The modest youngster knows that his family name attracts almost as much attention as his form does, but he doesn’t get caught up in the hype.

“I get a lot of talk about that but I just try to put it to one side and concentrate on playing footy.”

And when asked where the understated teen gets his down to earth nature from, he attributes his relaxed demeanor to his dad. Cyril Senior was also an accomplished footy player, playing for St Mary’s. In fact some of “Junior’s” fondest memories of growing up are going to see his dad play, even if it did make him slightly nervous.

“He was very much an in and under player, diving at the ball. I used to get a bit scared when he would go in head first but he always got through it.”

Now that the tables have turned and it’s his dad’s turn to watch him play, there’s always a good match debrief.

“He always calls me up before a game to wish me luck and after games we always have a good chat about it. He’s always really positive. But sometimes if I have a shot for goal and I pass it off he’ll say, ‘you should have taken that’,” he laughed.

Rioli has now lived in Melbourne for five years and is well settled in Victoria. But his initial move from the Northern Territory to Melbourne boarding school Scotch College wasn’t easy. In fact he found it quite a culture shock.

“It was a big move. I wasn’t a big fan of school so it was hard. I missed my family and just doing things like going out fishing and, of course, the weather.”

He admits there are still occasions when he craves the balmy climate.

“This morning when I was walking to training I was just freezing and I kept thinking to myself, I wish I was back in Darwin,” he laughed.

Rioli, who was nominated for the Rising Star Award for a contribution which has seen him play every game so far this year and notch eight goals, was an All-Australian at Under-18 level when he represented the Northern Territory in the state championships. But for him, the competition was much more than an opportunity to receive individual accolades. It provided a respite from missing home.

“Something that really sticks out in my mind was playing for NT … being away from home was tough so having all the boys come down and to get to spend time with them in the Under 18s nationals was really good.”

Rioli’s teammate Chance Bateman has also helped the teenager make the transition to AFL and life in Melbourne.

“Being one of the indigenous boys, I really look up to him. When I first got here I stayed with him for a while. It was a bit weird at first because I was nervous but he’s a top bloke. He’s really looked after me. The way he goes about things off the field, I just really want to be like him.”

And on the field, Rioli says he’s not short of players to guide him.

“Jarryd Roughead’s probably the leader in the forward line so you look to him. But all the boys help you along. I don’t get nervous. I guess being young, you’ve got nothing to lose. The older guys have all that experience so they help you out.”