 His father Cyril Jr. was a champion footballer in the Northern Territory and the brother of the late Richmond Norm Smith Medallist Maurice Rioli.Cyril Jr. played for Northern Territory Football League club St Mary's, where he won 12 premiership medallions and the 1995–96 Nichols Medal as the league's best and fairest player.His mother Kathy is the sister of two-time premiership player and 1993 Norm Smith Medallist Michael Long.