Retired Hawthorn AFL superstar Cyril Rioli has taken a job as an assistant coach with Northern Territory's Tiwi Bombers, and will also play if his fellow coaches have a say.
Rioli spent the first eight years of his life on the Tiwi Islands before moving to Darwin and on to Melbourne in 2004 as a 13-year-old when he received a scholarship to attend Scotch College.
Still aged only 29, he shocked the AFL in mid-2018 when he retired after 189 matches, four premierships and numerous individual awards.
Rioli said the decision to take up the "challenging" coaching job was an easy one because he came from the area and wanted to do something for the community he admires.
"I just want to get involved. It will be a different role and pretty challenging but I want to be involved in football in a way that I'm comfortable and a way I can help the young guys in the team," he told reporters on Friday.
Rioli, however, is not so sure about playing for the Bombers.
"Only time will tell, it is still up in the air but it could happen," he said.
"As much as I want to play footy I'm here to coach and help these guys so hopefully that makes the same impact off the field.
"A lot of young kids want to play and put on the jersey, it's important that a teenager or someone a bit younger gets a chance rather than me playing."
One of the team's two new head coaches, fellow Tiwi Islander Shane Tipuamantamerri, said Rioli would be also be valuable as a player.
"It would be great for the community and also Northern Territory footy to have a legend of our game hopefully put on the Tiwi Bombers jumper," he said.
"It is up to him, so at the moment he is just happy to be part of a new journey (coaching) with the Tiwi Bombers but hopefully he does put on a jumper."
Rioli did some work as a runner last season delivering messages and had lifted up the young players "with his presence", said co-coach Jamie Scrymgou.
The Tiwi Bombers Football Club was established in 2007 as the first all-Aboriginal team in a major competition.
The Tiwis are renowned as skilled Australian Rules footballers and have produced three Norm Smith Medallists - Cyril and Maurice Rioli, plus Michael Long.
