Michael Long and Maurice Rioil both shone on Grand Final day

TWO Tiwi greats, who remain among the finest Grand Final performers in VFL/AFL history, face off in this week's match-up of The Deadliest.

Who will you choose: Michael Long or Maurice Rioli? >> GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE TO GET YOUR VOTE IN 

>> WATCH YOKAYI FOOTY IN THE PLAYER BELOW

30:56

Yokayi Footy: Who wins, Cyril or Silk? Plus a message for everyone

Join Tony Armstrong, Bianca Hunt and Josh Hill for episode three of Yokayi Footy

As a feature of the new Yokayi Footy show on NITV and AFL.com.au, the 16 contenders to be the Greatest Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander player have been placed into a tournament-style bracket, based on their career achievements and the selectors' votes. 

THE DEADLIEST How were the 16 contenders chosen, and who missed out? 

Week 2 results

Last week's round of The Deadliest pitted four-time Hawthorn premiership star Cyril Rioli against his silky teammate for the 2013-15 flags, Shaun Burgoyne. The results were:

  • Shaun Burgoyne 48% v Cyril Rioli 52%

Rioli moves on to face Lance Franklin in the quarter-finals.

Match-up 4: Michael Long v Maurice Rioli

01:00

The Deadliest: Michael Long v Maurice Rioli

Two legends of the game from the Northern Territory - Who gets your vote?

Michael Long

  • Essendon
  • Tiwi
  • 190 games, 143 goals, Australian Football Hall of Fame, two-time Premiership player, 1993 Norm Smith Medal, two-time All-Australian

Long's electrifying career was encapsulated in his 1993 Grand Final performance: 33 possessions, a legendary goal and he took home the Norm Smith Medal.

Long missed significant patches of his career with knee injuries, but bounced back and played 23 games in Essendon's historic 2000 season, finishing with a second premiership.

Long has stood up against racism throughout his life, starting with a mediation session in 1995 with Damian Monkhorst after Long claimed the Collingwood ruckman had racially taunted him in a game.

Following that, the AFL drafted the racial and religious anti-vilification laws. Long has continued the fight against racism, always being a driving force in the Dreamtime at the 'G game and The Long Walk.

In 2019, a statue of Long was unveiled outside Essendon's training facility.

Essendon great Michael Long at the unveiling of his statue outside the Bombers' Tullamarine base. Picture: AFL Photos

Maurice Rioli

  • South Fremantle/Richmond
  • Tiwi
  • 286 games, 213 goals, Australian Football Hall of Fame, Western Australian Football Hall of Fame, 1980  WAFL Premiership player, two-time Simpson Medallist, 1982 Norm Smith Medal, three-time All-Australian

Maurice Rioli was the definition of a 'big-game player'.

He won the Simpson Medal for being judged the best player on the ground in both the winning 1980 WAFL Grand Final and also the losing 1981 WAFL Grand Final for South Fremantle.

In 1982, Rioli made the decision to move to Victoria and became the first player to win a Norm Smith Medal in a losing side on Grand Final day.

Rioli was also the first Indigenous player to win a Norm Smith Medal.

Rioli wasn't overly quick for a midfielder, but his poise in congestion and brilliant skills won him plenty of fans.

Tune in to Yokayi Footy each Wednesday at 8pm AEDT on NITV, AFL.com.au, the AFL Live App; and on Friday at 3pm AEDT on SBS Viceland, and SBS On Demand.  

Head to afl.com.au/deadliest each week to cast your vote for the Greatest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander player.