State funeral for Australian Football League great as well as former politician, Maurice Rioli will be held in Darwin, Northern Territory of Australia on Friday.

The 53-year-old, who played 118 games for Richmond in the 1980s and later served in the Northern Territory Parliament for nine years, died from a heart attack on Christmas Day.

Rioli was the first Aboriginal player to win the Norm Smith medal.

Hundreds of people, including several high-profile footballing identities, are expected to gather at St Mary's Cathedral on Smith Street in Darwin on Friday to say goodbye to a man who "gave everything to the game".

"The death of such a well-liked sporting hero shocked and saddened us all," the Northern Territory News wrote on Friday.

"His early death should act as a symbol for all that is wrong in Aboriginal society and inspire governments and health services to close the yawning gap (in life expectancy) dividing (indigenous and non-indigenous) Australians."

Meanwhile, Tiwi Bombers Football Club chief executive Alan McGill said Rioli was an incredibly influential personality.

"There's no question that over Maurice's football career he was one of the leading players in the whole of Australia when he was competing in Melbourne," he told ABC News on Friday.

"I think that's really fitting that contribution plus his other contributions to the local community are being recognized by way of a state funeral."

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