Rioli, the son of the late Maurice Rioli, lined up for the Northern Territory against Tasmania at Blacktown International Sportspark on Monday.

Where his father was a meticulous left-foot kick, Maurice junior is a right foot. The son of a gun isn't a speed machine but he is brave, has quick reflexes and has a knack of finding the ball, as he did with 15 disposals against Tasmania.

That he is only 14 - he does not turn 15 until September - highlights his potential. However, should his progress continue, he won't be able to be nominated as a father-son by the Tigers until the 2020 national draft.

AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan told Fairfax Media it was too early to predict if Rioli would reach the AFL but his talent was unquestionable.

"He was clean, brave, pushed up from half-forward into the midfield, at times. He probably played that fifth, sixth role," he said on Monday.

"He is only, obviously, small and light at the minute but there is so much growth and development in him yet. He is very much in the facial features exactly like Maurice.

"As we say, he is just a boy starting his journey with one of the famous name tags."

Tigers' recruiting officer Francis Jackson was also on hand on a day Rioli, who began on the bench, was one of the NT's better players in a heavy defeat. Rioli's home club is the Darwin Buffaloes.

Maurice senior played 118 games for the Tigers between 1982 and 1987. He is one of only four players to be a Norm Smith medallist in a losing grand final side, that being against Carlton in 1982.

He was named in the Indigenous side of the century and would become a politician in the NT. He died from a heart attack on Christmas Day, 2010.

Rioli was the uncle to Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli and the great uncle to young Tiger Daniel, who has shown flashes of Maurice's brilliance this year.

On the opening weekend of the under-18 national championships, Vic Country defender-midfielder Luke Davies-Uniake, from the Dandenong Ranges, did his hopes of becoming a top-five, even No.1, selection no harm with 34 disposals and 10 marks in a two-goal win over the Allies on Sunday.

That Davies-Uniake's efforts came in 25-minute set quarters highlighted how effective the strong-bodied star was.

Jarrod Brander, another talent deemed a "player to watch" by recruiters, was also a stand-out. Playing as a defender, he had 20 disposals, including nine defensive rebounds.

Nick O'Brien, a silky midfielder, was a late withdrawal because of knee soreness but is expected back soon.

Darcy Fogarty booted two goals for South Australia in its golden-point loss to Western Australia on Saturday but is understood to have been hampered by a meniscus issue with his knee.

His teammate, ruckman Callum Coleman-Jones, had 22 hit outs but impressed as the match progressed with his marking around the ground.

Recruiters have said the opening matches have highlighted how strong the under-age 17-year-olds years are, and will be come next year's draft. Fairfax Media reported last week some recruiters believe the 2018 draft shapes as being a "super draft".

SA's Izak Rankine and WA dasher Ian Hill were among the stand-outs.

Vic Metro will name its team on Tuesday ahead of Sunday's opening clash against WA at Domain Stadium.