The heartbreaking reality of these images as Hawthorn celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its famous threepeat
Hawthorn's golden era was honoured on Friday night, but one iconic name was missing from the celebrations.
The club's famous threepeat team - premiers in 2013, 2014 and 2015 - reunited at Melbourne Town Hall to mark 10 years since their historic run.
It was a night of laughter, stories, and old teammates reconnecting - except one.
Cyril Rioli, the four-time premiership hero and 2015 Norm Smith Medallist, did not attend.
When Hawthorn posted photos from the event, fans were quick to spot the painful detail.
'Where's Cyril?' one asked.
Another posted a single tear emoji and the comment : 'Wish Cyril would go.'
The rift between Rioli and Hawthorn remains unresolved, despite fans' hopes for healing.
In 2022, Rioli became the lead plaintiff in a high-profile racial discrimination claim against the club.
That matter has since been settled, with the club issuing an apology and the plaintiffs receiving an undisclosed financial settlement.
But Rioli has remained distant from Hawthorn - and his absence on Friday confirmed the depth of that separation.
Former captain Luke Hodge, who played alongside Rioli for a decade, has tried repeatedly to reconnect.
'We left on really good terms,' Hodge said on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters.
'When he retired, he sent me a message saying 'thanks for all the development and all the help'.'
Premiership-winning coach Alastair Clarkson was another big name absentee, as he was busy preparing North Melbourne for their clash against Carlton on Saturday
Yet even mentors from Hawthorn's famous forward line haven't been able to reach him.
'It's almost like he's parted ways with everyone there,' Hodge said.
Rioli didn't attend Hawthorn's centenary match in May either.
But he was spotted later that month, smiling at TIO Stadium as Gold Coast played Hawthorn during Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
The moment was broadcast live as Rioli stood to cheer a Suns goal.
'He had a fair smile on his face when Gold Coast kicked that goal,' Hodge noted on commentary.
At full-time, Hodge made his way to the stands for a brief chat with his former teammate.
'It was just good to see him looking happy,' he said.
Rioli's cousin, Daniel, now plays for the Suns and spoke after the game.
'I didn't see him or have had any contact with him yet,' Daniel said.
'But it's good to see him out here still watching the footy. I love him.'
Hawthorn fans clearly feel the same way.
'Where is Cyril? We miss you a lot!' one fan wrote.
Another added: 'Cyril will never come back. It's sad.'
There is still a sense of deep respect and reverence for Rioli's brilliance.
From his six-goal, 12-tackle performance in 2011, to his match-winning birthday goal against Sydney in 2016, Rioli created moments that will never be forgotten.
But as the club's stars gathered for one more toast to greatness, the absence of their most electric player couldn't be ignored.
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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Nick Kyrgios: ‘If I'd acted a bit differently, I would have had a Wimbledon title'
Wimbledon runs through Nick Kyrgios's tumultuous career with a mysterious force full of pain, glory and controversy. It is a tournament defined by history and restraint but, for Kyrgios the disruptor, it is also a place pitted with dark despair and sunlit magic. The Australian has spent a night in a psychiatric ward while playing at Wimbledon and also been served with court orders and lawsuits during and after the 2022 championship that ended in him pushing Novak Djokovic so hard in a memorable final. But he has since struggled with injury and he will miss his third successive Wimbledon this year. He still can't keep away. Kyrgios returns for a live performance of his podcast, Good Trouble, at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 24 June. But he pauses when asked what this strange and beautiful place means to him: 'Wimbledon holds special memories for me. It's the first grand slam where I broke through and it's the pinnacle of tennis. Every time you step into the grounds you feel the energy and the aura. But I don't always feel so comfortable there either because I don't act like the normal tennis player. Wimbledon takes note of that a lot. I definitely feel like a snowman in the desert there but I enjoy it.' Kyrgios cackles when I ask if he expects a few hecklers to join his secret guests at his Wimbledon show. 'I hope so. I really enjoy people that don't necessarily like how I go about things. If they want to come and heckle, I'm all for it. Open invitation, please.' Past guests on his podcast range from Mike Tyson and Naomi Osaka to Matthew McConaughey and Djokovic. Kyrgios starts each episode by asking his guests what 'good trouble' means to them. For Kyrgios, 'good trouble' means 'shaking things up, not always doing things the way we're taught. The one thing that stands out for me, being a tennis player in a Roger Federer-esque sport where you fit into a mould, is that I've gone against the grain my whole career. I've definitely shaken things up and done it my way'. We revisit his tournament debut in 2014 and I ask Kyrgios to describe his initial impressions of Wimbledon. 'That I was at the top of the tennis world. If you play Wimbledon multiple times you're playing in front of the Royal Box on a court where every blade of grass is the same length. If you make it on to that stage the journey has been worth it.' Kyrgios was given a wildcard that year and he played sublime tennis to beat Rafael Nadal in the fourth round. Nadal made only 18 unforced errors over four sets, but he couldn't contain the fire and brilliance of the Canberra teenager. Kyrgios hit 37 aces and 70 winners, including a between-the-legs flick that almost brought Centre Court down with delirium. John McEnroe said: 'We have a new star on our hands.' 'It was life-changing,' Kyrgios says, 'but I wasn't ready at that age [19] to take on the responsibility.' Five years later he played Nadal in the second round. It was another engrossing match studded with acrimony. He lost in four sets but attention focused afterwards on the fact he had tried to hit Nadal with a ball. 'The dude has got how many slams, how much money in the bank?' Kyrgios said afterwards. 'I think he can take a ball to the chest, bro. I'm not going to apologise to him.' Yet, as Kyrgios revealed years later in the Netflix documentary Break Point, he was in turmoil. He was drinking and self-harming to the point where he had to wear a compression sleeve on his arm to hide the scars. He spoke of how, in the aftermath of losing to Nadal, he was admitted to a psychiatric ward in London. But Kyrgios says something subtly different now when I ask if he can take us back to his time under psychiatric care: 'I had to go and play Nadal the next day. I didn't really have a choice.' I am so surprised that I ask Kyrgios if he really had been on the psychiatric ward the night before he faced Nadal? 'Yes, yes. In 2019 people assumed that I had an incredible year. I was top 20 in the world, but I was at my lowest. When I finally opened up that's when people started realising that, yes, I haven't always been perfect or always done things right, but I'm willing to speak about it. I've had hundreds of thousands of kids messaging me on Instagram and I try and go through all of them and help as much as I can.' How did he play against Nadal in such a fragile state? 'We have to sometimes block out what we're going through and go to work. I can't just run away.' Kyrgios adds: 'Playing Nadal at Wimbledon and losing in a tight four-set battle? I was extremely proud. I'm just proud I made it through [his depression].' He was so low that, 'all through that year', Kyrgios contemplated taking his life. 'I was in a dark place and it didn't get better after that moment. I was definitely struggling throughout the year with those thoughts and the self-harm. But I've been able to navigate that and help others.' For Kyrgios, 'anyone who doesn't say I'm a role model doesn't know what I go through on a day-to-day basis. They don't have kids messaging them for advice and saying: 'I've had suicidal thoughts and you're the only reason why I'm trying to find my way.' I do everything I can for the youth so I think [his critics] are straight-up haters. 'But I take pride in giving back and when I see kids that aren't super-high on confidence and are afraid of people speaking negative words at them, that's when I can help the most, because I've gone through it.' Andy Murray saw the signs of self-harm and, as Kyrgios confirms appreciatively, 'he was one of the first to notice and tell me, if I needed any help, I could always talk to him.' Three years on, in 2022, Kyrgios lost that bruising four-setter to Djokovic in the final. 'The fact I've made the final of a grand slam is pretty damn cool,' he says. 'It's something I'll be able to share with my kids and grandkids and show them that anything is possible. The courts around my house [in Canberra] are generally concrete with cracks in them so the fact I made a grand slam final is pretty crazy.' Earlier in that tournament Kyrgios received a summons to appear in a Canberra court on a charge of common assault after he had allegedly pushed his former girlfriend Chiara Passari during an argument in January 2021. 'All the charges got dropped,' Kyrgios says. 'I knew exactly what was happening, so I just had to continue playing tennis.' In 2023 Kyrgios pleaded guilty but he was not convicted as the magistrate decided he had 'acted poorly in the heat of the moment' and that the case was at the lower end of the scale of common assault. In a written statement Kyrgios expressed his contrition. 'I was not in a good place and I reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeply regret. I know it wasn't OK and I'm sincerely sorry for the hurt I caused.' Kyrgios was also sued after the 2022 final because he had asked the umpire to eject a spectator, Anna Palus, who shouted just before he served. He said that Palus 'looks like she's had about 700 drinks, bro' but, after legal action was instigated against him, Kyrgios accepted she had not been drinking excessively: 'I was mistaken, and I apologise. To make amends, I have donated £20,000 to Great Ormond Street Hospital.' Despite all the controversy he still believes he came close to beating Djokovic. 'Definitely. It was only a couple of points here and there where, if I'd acted a bit differently, I would have had a Wimbledon title. But there's no shame in losing to the greatest of all time. Do I think about it often? Yes. Do I think about what I could have changed? Yes. Could I have prepared better? No. I prepared amazingly.' Two months later Kyrgios should have played Casper Ruud in the US Open semi-final but he lost a five-set match in the quarters to Karen Khachanov. 'I should have won and I genuinely thought that was one of my biggest chances to win a slam. But it's not life or death. I can't say that losing a tennis match is catastrophic.' Kyrgios has suffered numerous wrist, knee and foot injuries and, after struggling at the Australian Open and Indian Wells this year, he was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon. Can he come back and play in more grand slams? 'Yes, I think I'll definitely play them one or two more times. But there's a lot of wear on these tyres. It's a tough sport.' Rehab and training are a 'constant grind' for the 30-year-old but he expects to play in the US Open. 'Yes, for sure. I'm definitely playing the US swing and I'll take it one day at a time.' Meanwhile, as they showed during their exhilarating French Open final, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are playing, in Kyrgios's words, 'incredible tennis. It's pretty obvious those two are going to be juggernauts of the sport for the next 10 or 15 years. They pushed each other to a level that not many have played before. I think Alcaraz has that flair and X-factor of Federer, Nadal and Novak. Sinner is incredibly powerful but Alcaraz will be up there with those greats.' Who will win Wimbledon next month? 'I've got to say Alcaraz.' Kyrgios and Djokovic are friends now, so was he wrong to once say the Serb had 'a sick obsession with wanting to be liked'? 'No. He's way more comfortable in his own skin now. I think he did want the crowd to love him but he enjoys being the villain. He finds energy when people heckle him. He's the greatest tennis player of all time so he wouldn't care as much what people think now. We have respect for each other and we are proof that different personalities can make it to the top and you don't have to have everyone liking you.' Kyrgios has been a revelation in the commentary box. 'I know I'm a great commentator,' he says. 'All I've done for 20 years is play, study and breathe this sport. I also think tennis needs commentators who say things that not everyone says.' Yet the BBC has not signed him up for this year's Wimbledon. 'It's unfortunate but it's probably their loss more than mine,' he says. 'I understand they've got Chris Eubanks [the American currently ranked world No 108] but he hasn't beaten the greatest of all time multiple times. When someone's beaten Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic and has incredible insights, it's very strange you wouldn't want that person adding knowledge to tennis fans.' Kyrgios sounds more conciliatory towards the BBC when he says: 'I'm sure our paths will cross again. I only ever want to add humour, some knowledge and some great atmosphere.' As he prepares to return to Wimbledon, and the scene of so many tangled memories, Kyrgios says: 'Life's too short for regrets. I think if you take one little block out, it all falls down. Every mistake I've made has given me the chance to learn and be the person I am today.' Nick Kyrgios will be at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 24 June as part of his Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios global tour. Info at In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@ or jo@ In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Blues booed off the MCG after crashing to humiliating loss to North Melbourne: 'Don't worry Carlton. I give up too'
Carlton's finals hopes have taken a massive hit after being booed from the field in a dismal 11-point loss to North Melbourne at the MCG, a result that has left their season teetering on the brink of collapse. Supporters turned on the team in extraordinary fashion, with jeers echoing around the stadium at halftime, three-quarter time, and again as players slowly trudged from the field at the final siren. The boos were a reaction to a second-quarter onslaught from the Kangaroos, who kicked six goals to just one behind to seize control of a game few had given them a chance of winning. Despite a spirited late comeback that saw Carlton boot five unanswered goals in the final term, the damage was already done, and the Roos held on for a stunning 13.6 (84) to 10.13 (73) victory. North led by as much as 46 points midway through the third quarter and, while they faded late, the lead proved too big for the wasteful Blues to claw back. Carlton's inefficiency in the forward half was glaring once again, with the team kicking 5.5 from 18 inside-50 entries in the last term alone, despite North barely venturing forward themselves. The final siren was met with frustration, as thousands of Carlton fans had already left early, some walking to Jolimont Station while others joined a steady stream of vehicles exiting the MCG carpark well before the game ended. One supporter wrote: 'Don't worry Carlton. I give up too,' while another posted: 'We are one of the most boring rubbish teams going around. It is getting worse week by week.' The moment that seemed to sum up Carlton's afternoon came early in the third term, when after Cam Zurhaar kicked truly for North, Adam Cerra lashed out with a gut punch to ruckman Tristan Xerri. Although the contact was minor, the umpire awarded Xerri a free kick 45 metres out, and the resulting goal gave North a rare 'double goal' that extended their lead to 40 points. From there, the Blues completely lost composure, with Corey Durdin, Jaxon Binns and skipper Patrick Cripps all missing gettable chances and sending three consecutive shots out on the full. Carlton's win last week had given fans a flicker of hope, but this defeat has cast serious doubt over their ability to make the finals, particularly with a difficult run home that includes games against Collingwood, Brisbane, Fremantle (away), and Gold Coast. With only nine matches remaining, the Blues will likely need to win seven to qualify - a task that looks increasingly unlikely given their recent form. Coach Michael Voss now faces fresh scrutiny as new CEO Graham Wright prepares to take the reins, with the club's direction under question and supporter patience clearly running thin. Earlier in the match, Carlton suffered another scare when star defender and vice-captain Jacob Weitering was helped from the ground with a left ankle injury just minutes into the game. Carlton fans are leaving the MCG early😬 it's not even half time yet #AFLBluesNorth — RickRo$$⚽️🏀🏈🇦🇺 (@rickross1230) June 21, 2025 Carlton supporters leaving the MCG in droves 😂😂😂 #AFLBluesNorth #aflbluesroos #AFL #Baggers — JAKE FLAGPIES23 🏆🖤🤍 (@IncrediblyBozza) June 21, 2025 He had leapt over Cam Zurhaar in a marking contest, landed awkwardly, and signalled to the bench in clear distress before being taken from the field by medical staff. While Weitering's injury took the sting out of the Blues' early momentum, North also lost Jack Darling briefly after he sustained a nasty gash to the leg in a separate first-quarter incident. Darling returned in the second quarter after treatment, while Weitering's condition remains unclear ahead of next week. Carlton fans had hoped for a lift after star forward Charlie Curnow was named to return following calf concerns, and he made a stylish entrance by riding his bike to the ground wearing sunglasses and a club jacket. But despite his cool arrival, Curnow and his teammates were overwhelmed for three quarters by a North Melbourne side that simply wanted the ball more and executed their plans better. North Melbourne entered the game with just one win for the season, but their effort, composure and efficiency stunned everyone, especially against a Carlton outfit desperate to stay in finals contention. Despite only managing five inside-50s in the final quarter, the Roos had done enough in the first three to bank the points and notch their second win of the year.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Five talking points from the Lions' loss to Argentina
Prior to losing 28-24 to Argentina in Dublin on Friday night, no British and Irish Lions had lost their opening tour game since though, will have faced opposition as strong and as on song as the Pumas. Despite quickly giving all credit to the victors in the immediate aftermath, head coach Andy Farrell's attention will quickly turn to what needs to improve before his side's first game on Australian soil against Western Force on 28 June. Scratch side still building connections There was no competition for word of the day at the Lions media briefing on Wednesday - "cohesion" was clearly the focus. Given how clunky these affairs have been in the recent past, and that this represented a first hit for what is a brand new side, it was fair to assume clicking quickly would be a challenge. Two-time Lion Tadhg Beirne, for one, seemed a bit perplexed by such a notion however, reminding that we were talking about "world class" players. Across their first 80 minutes together, the Lions attack felt like it should be judged in two different facets - ambition and execution. In terms of the former, their shape was strong and they created plenty of opportunities through sharp it came to the latter, however, they were lacking. Offloads that went to ground or straight into Argentine hands were one serious issue, as were passes just a beat off the runner. While there was the bones of an encouraging display with ball in hand, Farrell will clearly demand his side are sharper once they hit Australian shores. "The whole story of the game is that we compounded too many errors and in the end weren't able to put the pace on the game that we wanted to because of that," said the irked head coach afterwards. Scrum dominant but line-out falters There is a natural inclination to look at attacking combinations when the Lions first come together, but Friday's defeat again offered the reminder of the difficulties of quickly gelling a collection of great individuals into a Test-ready unit at the set-piece. While there were errors aplenty with the ball, perhaps the most concerning element of the performance was the line-out. The Lions had 18 throws from touch and were turned over four times, a statistic that was all the more disappointing given that the maul did make headway when they got it right."I think we were just finding our rhythm, unfortunately we couldn't get it quite as smooth as we wanted but we'll definitely get better," said skipper Maro Itoje."We'll review, we'll learn the lessons and we'll get better."I think as we improve our relationships, as we spend more and more time together training and understanding each other's triggers, that will come."The scrum was a different story. In what Farrell called an "aggressive" performance at the set-piece, the front row were able to eke out a string of props Ellis Genge and Finlay Bealham, the latter only added to the squad after Zander Fagerson's injury, certainly made early cases for big roles on this tour. Loss of aerial battle will catch Schmidt's eye When Joe Schmidt was coach of Ireland between 2013 and 2019, a huge part of his success was built upon an ability to zero in and ruthlessly exploit an opponent's events in Dublin, the Australia head coach will surely have taken note of the Lions' struggles defensively and under the high ball in their back-three. There were times when those on the outside were left in unenviable positions out wide, but too many tackles did not stick and Argentina definitely got the better of things when putting boot to ball. Some of the more athletic backs at Schmidt's disposal would surely fancy their chances in an aerial battle should the Lions not improve in that area before the Test series. When things did get scrappy after spilled kicks, Farrell seemed especially frustrated by his side's inability to win loose balls. "What is disappointing is scraps on the floor from that type of battle always seem to go to Argentina," he said. "There's a bit of fight and hunger from them that we can't accept." Fresh faces can provide boost in Australia When it came to how those involved had helped or hampered their Test prospects, Farrell said: "Some people will be happy and obviously others won't and will be dying to get another chance out there." When that chance comes for those who failed to impress is anyone's was hardly ideal that the schedule for this tour left the Lions without the vast majority of those involved in the United Rugby Championship and Premiership finals, as well as Toulouse's Blair though, on the back of a defeat, Farrell has ample opportunity to freshen things up against Western Force with a host of players ready to see their first action of the trip. The likes of James Lowe and Hugo Keenan would be expected to improve things under the high ball in particular, while both Garry Ringrose and Huw Jones would appear to be more natural fits in the outside centre role. After Fin Smith's strong showing in the 10 jersey, it will be fascinating to see how Bath's Finn Russell goes in his first outing of the tour too. 'Sea of Red' on show in Dublin While this was not a Lions Test in name, it certainly felt like one in terms of the occasion. "Spectacular," was Maro Itoje's summary. A huge percentage of the 51,700 crowd seemed to be at the Aviva Stadium early and it was striking to see so many red jerseys milling around the streets in the hours before kick-off. When you think back to the South Africa trip four years ago, played in virtually empty stadiums due to Covid-19 restrictions, Friday offered a reminder of how big a part the travelling supporters will play when this tour lands in Australia. "I don't think the fans fully understand how much it means to us," said centre Bundee Aki, who was on that South Africa tour four years ago."I got goosebumps when I saw the sea of red. [It was] unbelievable compared to what we had the last time. "
