EXCITING youngster Daniel Rioli is closing in on a two-year deal with Richmond after continuing the impressive start to his AFL career in 2017.
Rioli has always declared his desire to stay with the Tigers but wanted to wait until the CBA was signed off before signing a deal.
Industry sources suggest the 20-year-old should earn between $300-350,000 a season after the players earned a 20 per cent rise in the TPP in 2017.
The 20-year-old began the year on fire with 10 goals in the first six games but his scoreboard impact has dropped off slightly in recent weeks with just three goals in the past nine games.
Rioli's continued his forward pressure laying 44 tackles for the season so far and has laid at least one tackle in each of his 33 games.
He is a crucial part of the mosquito fleet that had, until Saturday night against St Kilda, been so influential in Richmond's impressive season.
Rioli's statistics this season stack up well next to small forwards such as West Coast's Jamie Cripps and Carlton's Jack Silvagni and his upside his huge.
The No.15 pick in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft won the Tigers' best first year player and earned a Rising Star nomination in 2016.
He also kicked one of the goals of the year in round three when the Tigers defeated the Eagles and has played every game this season.
Richmond is yet to re-sign free agent Dustin Martin but are comfortable with the pace of negotiations and are understood to be on the hunt for a tall forward/ruckman to support Jack Riewoldt inside the forward 50 along with impressive ruckmen Toby Nankervis.
Several players from the 2015 draft remain unsigned with Essendon's Darcy Parish and Adelaide's Tom Doedee two top 20 picks yet to strike a deal.
RIOLI! Surely this is a @coateshire Goal of the Year contender? #AFLTigersEagles pic.twitter.com/qAQGChEvNi
— AFL (@AFL) April 8, 2017