Rioli, who was 53, played 118 games for the Tigers between 1982 and 1987. He was a three-time All-Australian and a member of the AFL's Indigenous Team of the Century.
He won the Norm Smith Medal in Richmond's last VFL/AFL grand final in 1982, becoming the first player to win the medal despite playing for the losing side. He twice won the club's best and fairest award.
Born on Melville Island in the Northern Territory, Rioli first made his mark in the Northern Territory Football League, where he was one of eight brothers to play for St Mary's.
A gifted left-footer, he won his stripes with South Fremantle in the WAFL before moving east to Richmond aged 24.
As the tributes flowed, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou described Rioli as a genius with the football in his hands.
"I had the great pleasure to be able to play against Maurice and he was a wonderful skilled player who could control a game," CEO Andrew Demetriou said.
"He was the trailblazer for footballers from the Northern Territory in making their mark in the VFL and the AFL and he continued to serve his community long after his playing days, with his work in public life."
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said Rioli, who went into politics in later life, would be remembered as one of the club's greatest players.
"Maurice was an enormously important figure in the game as a player, and more broadly in the leading role he played for Indigenous Australians," Gale said.
"Maurice was loved by the Richmond Football Club family. He inspired millions. The friendships that he made were enduring."
He was the uncle of Hawthorn forward Cyril Rioli and former Essendon star Dean Rioli, and brother-in-law of Essendon legend Michael Long.
"The club offers its full support to the broader Rioli family and in particular Cyril, who is understandably very upset at the passing of his uncle," Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox said.
