Hawthorn Football Club champion and multiple Premiership winner Cyril Rioli has dropped a bombshell on the AFL community by announcing his immediate retirement from the game at the age of just 28.
Rioli’s retirement today puts a month of speculation to bed, following the star forward being granted indefinite leave from the club to return home to Darwin. Rioli’s retirement will coincide with a permanent move back to the Northern Territory to be nearer to his family, including his ailing father.
Rioli’s glittering, often spectacular career with the Hawks spanned 11 years and 189 games, producing 275 goals, and earning four AFL Premierships, three All-Australian selections, an AFL Goal of the Year award, and a coveted Norm Smith Medal in 2015 after being adjudged the best player on-ground in the Hawks successful Grand Final win over the West Coast Eagles.
Recent years, however, curtailed Rioli’s career. Injuries to his knee saw him play only seven games last year, and his father’s heart attack forced Rioli to return to Darwin to care for him, with many expecting his retirement to come at the end of last season.
However, despite an interrupted pre-season, Rioli played on, managing four games with the Hawks before suffering an injury to his medial ligament in round four against Melbourne, in what turned out to be his final AFL game.
Cyril issued a statement via Hawthorn’s website this morning confirming his retirement, and thanking the club for their continued support of him and his family.
The decision to retire from football is something that I have thought long and hard about over the past 12 months. I’ve weighed everything up and I am confident the decision I’ve made is the right one for me and my family. Football has been my life but it’s always been difficult being away from home. Now is the right time to go home and spend more time with friends and family.
I love the Hawthorn Football Club and I cannot thank them enough for the opportunities they’ve given me and the way they’ve embraced me and my family over the past 11 years.
Football personalities have taken to social media to express their gratitude at being able to witness one of the most unique and wholly spectacular careers in the history of the game.
What a ride it has been.
Thanks for the memories, Cyril. 💛💛💛
📝: https://t.co/ojDPYN9nlQ#Always pic.twitter.com/tBVjmQkOIq
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) July 3, 2018
Cyril Rioli had creative intensity, supreme skills, courage, power. When he first appeared, he was like a psychedelic blur in the packs. He routinely saw possibilities that were only apparent to the rest of us after he had done the deed. One of my all-time favourite players!
— Martin Flanagan (@Martin_Flanagan) July 4, 2018
Cyril Rioli retires. One of the most exciting, gifted players to lace up a boot. Rare ability to make something happen out of nothing. Just a glorious career. #ThanksCyril pic.twitter.com/a10VPO5wmb
— Alister Nicholson (@AlisterNicho) July 4, 2018
Thank you Cyril Rioli for the countless moments of joy you delivered to football fans everywhere. You are a great of the game and will live in our memories forever. All the best with the next phase of your life #Cyrillove #farewellcyril #AlwaysHawthorn
— BlueTick (@lehmo23) July 4, 2018
Watching Cyril Rioli play showed you everything great about Australian Rules Football. He never had the most touches but he did the most with every possession. A truly thrilling talent.
I hope he finds what he seeks off field then makes a comeback but this does seem final. #AFL
— Roy Ward (@rpjward) July 4, 2018
Cyril Rioli retires. What a player he was.
— Mark Robinson (@Robbo_heraldsun) July 4, 2018
Thanks for everything, Cyril. What a bloody player.
Someone check on Bruce McAvaney pls.