Previous AFLCA CEO, Neale Daniher presented the award to the veteran coach, at the dinner in front of over 500 guests at the AFLCA’s Awards Night at Crown.
Riley completed his second year as an assistant coach at Carlton in 2009 continuing his role with the Blues’ young midfield.
A former Claremont player in the WAFL, he was Claremont’s assistant coach in the premiership season of 1993 and senior coach when they played in the 2004 Grand Final.
Riley was Fremantle’s development coach between 1995 and 1997 and assistant coach 1998-2000. Returned to the WAFL as a senior coach before joining Melbourne as an assistant coach in 2003.
He coached Melbourne following the departure of Neale Daniher in the second half of the 2007 season.
Continuing the Carlton theme, skipper Chris Judd finished runner up in the AFLCA’s Player of the Year, behind Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett.
