Aidan Riley, the unspoken about gem

[Tyson4Brownlow 154]

Appreciate that he is rehabbing his leg and been out of sight, out of mind, but I have seen this guy play for Sturt over the past two years and he is the real deal, such a tough competitor. Ferocious at ball and player, I reckon he will be the equal of at least Cross and Michie in terms of value over the journey. Tyson is class and will be elite, so i wont quite go quite as far as rating Riley with him.

He is my big prediction of 2014 cause i have seen him bully too many Port and Adel players in the SANFL to think he wont make it. Will start at Casey, but by years end, Viney will have a "bash brother" to play with.

Best wishes Aidan, you deserve your opportunity!

[Sydee 3,617]

Hope you are right and everyone else has no idea I must admit seeing the few clips when he was recruited reminds me a lot of Jordie McKenzie - no match winner IMO

[Hannibal 5,814]

Appreciate that he is rehabbing his leg and been out of sight, out of mind, but I have seen this guy play for Sturt over the past two years and he is the real deal, such a tough competitor. Ferocious at ball and player, I reckon he will be the equal of at least Cross and Michie in terms of value over the journey. Tyson is class and will be elite, so i wont quite go quite as far as rating Riley with him.

He is my big prediction of 2014 cause i have seen him bully too many Port and Adel players in the SANFL to think he wont make it. Will start at Casey, but by years end, Viney will have a "bash brother" to play with.

Best wishes Aidan, you deserve your opportunity!

Yes, while I haven't personally seen enough of him his manic attack at the footy is legendary with Adelaide supporters who remain mightily annoyed with their club, because they took the risk of delisting him in an attempt to redraft him on the rookie list.

He's a very good size and supposedly has decent skills. I'm hoping for a more polished McKenzie and for Riley to take that shut down role.

[Whispering_Jack 27,977]

Considering he's played a handful of games, been affected by injury woes, won't start full training for a month and hardly any of us have seen him play, aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves?

[What 18,810]

Considering he's played a handful of games, been affected by injury woes, won't start full training for a month and hardly any of us have seen him play, aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves?

He will be a gun just like Viv Michie

Glad we have so many guns now

[beelzebub 22,225]

Considering he's played a handful of games, been affected by injury woes, won't start full training for a month and hardly any of us have seen him play, aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves?

but besides this ???

Riley is a bit of a find in tbe op shop for sure.

But he as I suspect Georgiou will be reviewed later as gems....rough diamonds no less.

[rpfc 27,471]

I know the opinion of him on Big Footy - but that means as much as the thoughts of some Landers on Gysberts, Morton, and Maric...

From what I have seen he is a courageous player and a terrific tackler - always aiming for the hips.

He, like Michie, another we are excited about due to the online whining of opposition supporters, will have plenty of opportunity in our midfield.

[Roger Mellie 3,503]

Riley was running around the boundary line at full tilt of Friday.

Exhausting viewing!

[Hannibal 5,814]

Considering he's played a handful of games, been affected by injury woes, won't start full training for a month and hardly any of us have seen him play, aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves?

"Hope" is "getting ahead of ourselves" ?

[bluey 890]

Maybe as good a punt as Rod Owen.

[jacey 333]

Hope you are right and everyone else has no idea I must admit seeing the few clips when he was recruited reminds me a lot of Jordie McKenzie - no match winner IMO

Same thoughts here.

No disrespect to SANFL but Jordie dominates VFL too.

Looking forward to seeing him properly and I still hold hope (albeit slim) for Jordie.

Thought he had excellent hands and had a big future as a stoppage player when he first started but his offense has fallen away.

We all think Trengove will improve under Roos so hopefully Jordie can too.

[DeeSpencer 23,134]

In really good midfields you don't want to have too many players who are in the main clearance players as you need versatility and should get a range of midfielders who can win the ball from the trenches. I'm thinking the likes of Viney, Tyson, Michie, Jones and Trengove.

But we are a long way from a gun midfield and Roos' game plan will always start with a stoppage focus. So after he builds his fitness back from injury I won't be surprised at all if Riley becomes a steady player in the team. Then it will depend on how much improvement he has. Just like Tyson and Michie he's had so little AFL experience it's hard to make definitive statements either way.

[P-man 13,168]

He will be a gun just like Viv Michie

Glad we have so many guns now

You do make me chuckle HH, I'll give you that.

If he's a Jordie Mac who can kick, I'll gladly take it.

[angrydee 842]

You do make me chuckle HH, I'll give you that.

If he's a Jordie Mac who can kick, I'll gladly take it.

And if he's a Jordie Mac that can't kick, then he's Jordie Mac.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,406]

When is he expected to start playing again?

[Carrot Top 947]

Adelaide supporting mate of mine, who has a good footy brain, is dirty on us for snagging him. He reckons Riley tackles better than most rugby players, and legally hurts those he does by just hitting the sweet spot time and time again. Now I haven't seen much of him, and tbh didn't even know who he was until he appeared on our list, but if he can do that and break even in other departments then we've done very, very well. Those players win you finals. When the intensity is through the roof and you have a bloke that knocks your fillings out every time you pick up the ball something has to give. You hesitate a fraction of a second to see if he's around; you take a short step because the last couple of long ones hurt like hell; you dish off quicker than you normally would; and the players around him get that sniff of blood and go a little harder too.

Tough teams win grand finals, and it's often only a couple of players that make them tough. Recruiting a fella known as 'pigdog' can only be a good thing.

[Satyriconhome 9,982]

When is he expected to start playing again?

I spoke to him last week, he is now 3 weeks away from full training, although doesn't seem hindered in what he is doing now, said his leg was fine, no problems, assume that full contact will be the test, wants to be playing early into the season......talked to him whilst he was getting out of the GPS holder, shirt off, he is really solid across the shoulders, chest and arms so when he hits it must hit, as other posters have been saying

[Carrot Top 947]

Oh yeah, and I like the idea of having a couple of hard nuts in the midfield, for no other reason than to make the pretty soft Carlton mids [censored] blood for a month after playing us.

[Redleg 37,600]

I spoke to him last week, he is now 3 weeks away from full training, although doesn't seem hindered in what he is doing now, said his leg was fine, no problems, assume that full contact will be the test, wants to be playing early into the season......talked to him whilst he was getting out of the GPS holder, shirt off, he is really solid across the shoulders, chest and arms so when he hits it must hit, as other posters have been saying

Agree he is a very solid unit. Not tall but extremely strong in the upper body. Seems a pretty level headed kid as well from the conversation I had with him a week ago. Wish him good luck.

[Satyriconhome 9,982]

And if he's a Jordie Mac that can't kick, then he's Jordie Mac.

Jordie Mc has been staying on at the end of each training sesssion I have been to, practicing his kicking, so he probably knows it is one area he needs to improve, been woriking with Daniel Cross, another midfielder who has a reputation for being handball happy.........think it was more of the roles they played in the past.....obviously Roos' wants them kicking

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

I reckon this guy will play 100 games for us. A great pick up.

I have a heap of friends who support the Toyota Camry Crows, and none of them can believe the Crows let Riley go (ie, delisted him with a view to rookie-ing him).

They all rate Vince too. Thank you Adelaide.

And thank you Roos, Viney, Taylor etc - our recruiting last year seems to have been really astute. Unlike all other years in this club's short to medium term history, there's not been one aspect of the recruiting/drafting that seems questionable*.

* Possible exception - not seeking to rookie list Jayden Hunt because of his physical stats, but that one's been well and truly answered.

[old dee 22,854]

I reckon this guy will play 100 games for us. A great pick up.

I have a heap of friends who support the Toyota Camry Crows, and none of them can believe the Crows let Riley go (ie, delisted him with a view to rookie-ing him).

They all rate Vince too. Thank you Adelaide.

And thank you Roos, Viney, Taylor etc - our recruiting last year seems to have been really astute. Unlike all other years in this club's short to medium term history, there's not been one aspect of the recruiting/drafting that seems questionable*.

* Possible exception - not seeking to rookie list Jayden Hunt because of his physical stats, but that one's been well and truly answered.

Not particular about your friends RB!

Only joking I have a number of mad Richmond supporters.

[Satyriconhome 9,982]

I spoke to Josh Mahoney at the AGM last night, apart from the fact he couldn't understand why Adelaide delisted hime, he said one of the main reasons we got him was for his "ferocious' attack on ball and man..........He said Aiden has the nickname "Pigdog".....Josh knows I go to Casey games, told me to enjoy watching Aiden rattle the VFL as he gets to full fitness

[jnrmac 18,972]

Oh yeah, and I like the idea of having a couple of hard nuts in the midfield, for no other reason than to make the pretty soft Carlton mids [censored] blood for a month after playing us.

We owe Mitch Robinson plenty.....

[Jarka 767]

Maybe as good a punt as Rod Owen.

Rod Owen had unbelieveable skills, pity about all the other stuff. He could have been an amazing player