'Just so sad': AFL world saddened over revelation about Hawks hero Cyril Rioli
AFL fans and commentators are expressing their sadness after Cyril Rioli stayed away from Hawthorn's centenary celebrations at the MCG on Sunday. Four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson returned to the fold as the Hawks marked their AFL/VFL centenary in style with a 65-point thrashing of Richmond.
Clarkson was among a host of former players and club legends who were part of a pre-match ceremony featuring all 13 premiership cups the club has won. Wearing a Hawthorn scarf despite being the current head coach of North Melbourne, Clarkson returned to the club for the first time since a bitter falling out when he left in 2021.
Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis, Robert DiPierdomenico and Dermott Brereton were among the many former players who took part, but a notable absentee was Rioli. The 2015 Norm Smith medallist and four-time premiership winner was in Melbourne over the weekend, but chose not to be part of the celebrations.
Rioli is one of Hawthorn's favourite sons, but is now estranged from the club due to allegations of racism experienced by him and his partner. In November last year, Hawthorn settled a federal court case with past First Nations players and their families, and issued an apology.
Rioli was among a group of players who alleged they were racially vilified during their time at the club. Hawthorn said in a statement: "No person should suffer to pursue a career in football. This has provided valuable learnings for the Club and has greatly assisted the Club in improving its processes, education and the care it provides to each First Nations player and their support persons."
The case was settled without a determination of any of the parties' allegations. Rioli was the lead applicant alongside his wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, former players Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, his partner Montanah-Rae Lewis, and former Hawthorn Indigenous liaison officer Leon Egan.
Some of the allegations were levelled against Clarkson, although an investigation by AFL officials uncovered no adverse findings. He has continually denied any wrongdoing.
Discussing his return and Rioli's absence on Channel 7 on Monday night, leading journalist Caroline Wilson provided new details. Wilson said Indigenous leader Aunty Joy was present at the celebrations, which served as a key step in the healing process.
'It was an unbelievable celebration, and people there at the function called it a line in the sand moment,' Wilson said on 'The Agenda Setters' program. 'Aunty Joy was there, she spoke - strong Indigenous leader, Aunty Joy.
'But there was sadness, for me, that there were some who weren't there. And I don't want to be a party pooper, but it's just so sad that one of the all-time greats, Norm Smith Medal winner, four-time premiership player, Cyril Rioli, didn't go. He was in Melbourne and he didn't go.'
Fellow panellist Craig Hutchison said: 'You can understand his healing and his view on that. I think it would have been a bridge too far for him to go, in the situation that they've been in, this soon. He was in Melbourne supporting his family which is great, but yeah, too hard for him to attend on the day.'
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On Sunday, Hawks coach Sam Mitchell - who took the reins from Clarkson in a messy handover in 2021 - admitted it was daunting to have his former mentor and so many greats around the club. "He's a four-time premiership coach of the club and hasn't been around for a while, so it's great that he was able to go out and spend some time with the guys that he coached from Hawthorn," Mitchell said. "Then on the other side he's coaching an opposition team, so there's always going to be some complexities around that side of things."
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