Cyril Rioli
Encyclopedia
Cyril Rioli is a professional Australian rules football
er currently playing with the Hawthorn Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). Primarily a small forward
, Rioli also spends time in the midfield, being tall and weighing 80 kilograms (176.4 lb).
Born to a bloodline of acclaimed professional footballers, which includes uncles Michael Long and Maurice Rioli
, the first eight years of Rioli's life were spent in the Tiwi Islands
. He moved to Darwin
and began playing for the St Marys Football Club
and then at age 14, moved to Melbourne to pursue a career in the AFL—boarding
at and playing for Scotch College
. Rioli emerged as a standout performer in the 2007 AFL national under 18 championships, earning himself selection in the U/18 All-Australian team
. On the back of this success, Rioli was selected at pick number 12 in the 2007 AFL Draft
by the Hawthorn Hawks.
Rioli made his AFL debut in Hawthorn's defeat of the Melbourne Football Club
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
(MCG) in round one 2008. He built a reputation around his ability to chase and pressure the opposition as they attempted to rebound
from the forward line
. In round six, he was nominated for the AFL Rising Star Award
, after his display against Richmond
, in which he received a nomination for Goal of the Year
. Rioli appeared in every game in his debut season, including an inspirational performance in Hawthorn's defeat of Geelong
in the 2008 AFL Grand Final
. He was rewarded for his impressive debut season with a sixth place finish in Hawthorn's Peter Crimmins Medal
(Best and fairest award) and second overall in the AFL Rising Star Award.
Rioli's second season was not as decorated as his first, with Hawthorn missing out on the finals after suffering a "premiership hangover". He spent more time in the midfield, and was struck down with injury, missing three games. Upon the end of a disappointing season, Rioli announced that he would like to help bring more Indigenous players down to be drafted from the Northern Territory
and also offered his support to an incentive aimed at teaching Indigenous people in remote areas about the damage drugs and alcohol can do to the brain.
and his brother, Richmond
Norm Smith Medal
list Maurice Rioli
. Cyril Jr. played for Northern Territory Football League
club St Marys
, where he won 12 premiership medallions and the 1995–96 Nichols Medal as the league's best and fairest player. His mother Kathy is two-time premiership player and 1993 Norm Smith Medallist Michael Long's sister. Rioli has a sister named Kalisha and another former footballer, Dean Rioli
, is his cousin. He spent the first eight years of his life in the Tiwi Islands
before moving with his family to Darwin
in the Northern Territory
, playing his younger years at St Marys also.
Rioli moved to Melbourne in 2004 as a 14 year old, where he attended and boarded
at Scotch College
for four years whilst playing for the school's football team. The move came about after a decade-long relationship between the school and Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory. Dr. Rob Smith, a teacher at Scotch College, had expanded the school's four-week exchange program for talented Indigenous footballers into a full scholarship program, following numerous tours of the Tiwi Islands and specifically, Bathurst Island. Rioli was the first selected into the program. He originally made the trip alongside his cousin Steven, after just three days in Melbourne the two re-packed their bags with the intention of returning home. In an effort to retain the boys, Smith phoned Michael Long, who came out to the school with Derek Kickett
and Sibby Rioli, another uncle. Long said he knew Cyril was making a life-defining choice at just 14; "That was the big moment, whether he'd tough it out or go". Steven returned home and Cyril persisted in Melbourne. Nicknamed "Junior" or "Junior Boy", he shone in his final season with Scotch College, despite suffering injuries throughout the season; including a broken collarbone and a severely damaged ankle. He developed somewhat of a cult following
whilst playing for the school, following a video clip of his highlights being uploaded to YouTube
. He has since stated that he believes the early move to school in Melbourne made the transition a lot easier.
Rioli was also a standout performer in the 2007 AFL national under 18 championships, becoming the only Northern Territorian
to earn All-Australian
honours, following a seven-goal performance in a match against Queensland. He was tipped to go high in the national draft, from anywhere between five and twenty-five. In this final year of junior football, he was one of five players, including Trent Cotchin
, to be chronicled in the book The Draft: Inside the AFL's Search for Talent, by The Age
journalist Emma Quayle
.
Despite Rioli's speed, evasiveness and flashy tricks, the scouts at the AFL's draft camp were still to be convinced of his dedication, with his skin folds being described as "less than brilliant" and his commitment to AFL still being questionable. Prior to the draft, Rioli said "I have had a few clubs call me, and it's just confusing. I love playing footy, and I think I am pretty good at it, but it doesn't really matter where (I go in the draft)." He reportedly spoke to both the Kangaroos
and the Adelaide Crows, before eventually being drafted by the Hawthorn Football Club
in the 2007 AFL Draft
. The Hawks used their first-round draft pick and the number 12 pick overall to claim Rioli.
. He covered 90% of his first pre-season schedule for the club; a very high volume of work for a first-year player according to the head fitness coach Andrew Russell. Russell said, "Nobody that I worked with in the last four years at Hawthorn did that much in their first pre-season." After debuting against the Melbourne Demons
in round one, Rioli had a standout first season in the AFL. He was nominated for the 2008 AFL Rising Star Award
in round six against the Richmond Tigers
, after gathering nineteen possessions and kicking two goals, one of which was a nominee for Goal of the Year
.
Following his early performances in the season, he was described as a speedy left-footer that played an important role in Hawthorn's forward line during their unbeaten start to the year. It was well documented that Rioli had provided a "massive spark" in and around packs, with his chasing and pressuring as teams tried to rebound
even becoming an inspiration to opposition teams. After a "stunning" debut season, Hawthorn decided to give Rioli a break during the finals campaign and sent him home for four days between the qualifying final and the preliminary finals. He returned physically and mentally refreshed, with an inspirational performance in the Grand Final
. His impact on the game was described as instrumental as Hawthorn defeated Geelong, in the club's first premiership since 1991. Rioli assisted in a couple of first quarter goals and kicked two goals for himself in the final, after the game Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson
said, "We knew Cyril was a beauty, but you just never anticipate that they're going to play every game of the season and be able to play in a grand final." With nothing but praise for Rioli, Clarkson also made mention of his achievements in 2008, "He's got a premiership medal now, but he's been in contention for mark of the year, goal of the year and the rising star and he's been very, very consistent. He's a 15-possession, five-tackle a game player with a goal or two – he's been a sensational acquisition to our club."
Rioli finished second overall in the 2008 AFL Rising Star Award, from which he was nominated for in round six. The award was won by Fremantle's
Rhys Palmer
with 44 votes, ahead of Rioli on 37. Michael Voss
went as far as predicting Rioli would be only the fourth first year player to be selected in the All-Australian team
, but it did not eventuate. He came in sixth overall in Hawthorn's Peter Crimmins Medal
(Best and fairest award) and received his first two Brownlow Medal
votes for his performance against the Brisbane Lions
in round 19.
with the potential to become a "dominant, match-winning midfielder". This was due to the "sublime skills" he displays, and his "ability to make something out of nothing with vision and an instinct for the game." Former footballer and journalist Garry Lyon
said in an article for The Age
, that when Rioli is ready to take on a greater workload in the midfield, will be determined by his physical and aerobic capacity
. Rioli's greatest challenge in the coming 12 months being to incorporate the "gut" running into his game that the likes of Ablett, Chris Judd
, Lenny Hayes
and Brett Kirk
have mastered.
In May, journalist Mike Sheahan
proclaimed that Rioli's exploits on the field were being overlooked. He said whilst Hawthorn as a club was being analysed and dissected, Rioli wasn't getting the recognition he deserved. According to Champion Data, only captain Sam Mitchell
had been more effective for Hawthorn at this time in the year. Following 36 consecutive games after being drafted, Rioli tore his hamstring
in round 11 2009 against the Sydney Swans
. Missing his first regular season match in round 12, he spent a month on the sidelines before returning against North Melbourne
in round 15. The Hawks were defeated in all three games he missed. His return was described as a "big boost" for Hawthorn's last-ditch bid to revive its season, after many commentators said the club was suffering a "premiership hangover". Following his return, it was announced that Rioli had re-signed with Hawthorn for a further three years. Hawthorn eventually faultered in the final round of the home and away season, losing to Essendon by 17 points. Thus, failing to qualify for the finals. Rioli's season was however, still seen as impressive. In the AFL website's end of year review, it was predicted that he will be considered an elite AFL player in the coming years.
Approaching the end of the 2009 season, Rioli bought his first apartment and declared his allegiance to spending his whole career with Hawthorn, he also revealed his intentions to help bring more players down from the Northern Territory; "That's the real goal for me, to get more kids drafted from the Northern Territory." After Hawthorn's demise in 2009, Rioli gave his support to a project which aims to teach Indigenous people in remote areas about the damage drugs and alcohol can do to the brain. An image of him is used in flip charts developed by the Menzies School of Health Research as an example of a person with a healthy brain. Sheree Cairney, the lead researcher at Menzies School, says there is a lack of knowledge in remote communities about how to treat drug and alcohol addiction, with the problem being "very, very widespread." At the end of 2009, he was awarded the AFL Players Association
award for Best Young Player, covering his first two years in football. He also received the Phil Manassa Medal (Goal of the Year award
) for his round seven effort against Essendon
, and came second in the Peter Crimmins Medal behind the club's captain Sam Mitchell.
Team
Individual
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er currently playing with the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). Primarily a small forward
Forward pocket
In Australian rules football, the forward pocket refers to a position on the field deep in offense.Forward pocket players, situated in the forward line, need to have good avoidance and goal sneak skills and usually, quality forward-pockets are noted for their agility and ability to score difficult...
, Rioli also spends time in the midfield, being tall and weighing 80 kilograms (176.4 lb).
Born to a bloodline of acclaimed professional footballers, which includes uncles Michael Long and Maurice Rioli
Maurice Rioli
Maurice Rioli was an Australian rules football player best known for his time spent with the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League...
, the first eight years of Rioli's life were spent in the Tiwi Islands
Tiwi Islands
The Tiwi Islands are part of Australia's Northern Territory, north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea joins the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island and Bathurst Island, with a combined area of ....
. He moved to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
and began playing for the St Marys Football Club
St Marys Football Club
The St Marys Football Club, nicknamed, Saints, formed in 1952 is a member club of the Northern Territory Football League. It is famous for its record of success, with 28 NTFL premierships and 55 out of 57 possible final appearances....
and then at age 14, moved to Melbourne to pursue a career in the AFL—boarding
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
at and playing for Scotch College
Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. Rioli emerged as a standout performer in the 2007 AFL national under 18 championships, earning himself selection in the U/18 All-Australian team
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
. On the back of this success, Rioli was selected at pick number 12 in the 2007 AFL Draft
2007 AFL Draft
The 2007 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2007/08 Australian Football League off-season. These were trade week, the National Draft, the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft.- Trades :...
by the Hawthorn Hawks.
Rioli made his AFL debut in Hawthorn's defeat of the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
(MCG) in round one 2008. He built a reputation around his ability to chase and pressure the opposition as they attempted to rebound
Rebound (sports)
Rebound is a term used in sports to describe the ball becoming available for possession by either opponent after an attempt to put the ball or puck into the goal has been unsuccessful...
from the forward line
Forward line
In Australian rules football, the forward line refers to a set of attacking positions on the field.The forward line consists of three players, a left and right forward pocket, and a full-forward. Up until approximately 20 years ago, the forward pockets were often the resting rover or ruckman...
. In round six, he was nominated for the AFL Rising Star Award
AFL Rising Star award
The NAB AFL Rising Star award is given annually to a standout young player in the Australian Football League. Since 2007 the winner has been presented with the Ron Evans Medal and was first awarded in 1993...
, after his display against Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
, in which he received a nomination for Goal of the Year
Goal of the Year (Australia)
The Goal of the Year is a competition for the best goals kicked in the VFL/AFL during that season. It is run in conjunction with the Mark of the Year competition and is currently sponsored by Panasonic. The award is also known as the Phil Manassa Medal....
. Rioli appeared in every game in his debut season, including an inspirational performance in Hawthorn's defeat of Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in the 2008 AFL Grand Final
2008 AFL Grand Final
The 2008 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football match contested between the Geelong Football Club and the Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on the 27th of September 2008...
. He was rewarded for his impressive debut season with a sixth place finish in Hawthorn's Peter Crimmins Medal
Peter Crimmins Medal
The Peter Crimmins Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player from the Hawthorn Football Club deemed best and fairest for the season.Peter Crimmins was a rover for Hawthorn, playing 1966-1975...
(Best and fairest award) and second overall in the AFL Rising Star Award.
Rioli's second season was not as decorated as his first, with Hawthorn missing out on the finals after suffering a "premiership hangover". He spent more time in the midfield, and was struck down with injury, missing three games. Upon the end of a disappointing season, Rioli announced that he would like to help bring more Indigenous players down to be drafted from the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
and also offered his support to an incentive aimed at teaching Indigenous people in remote areas about the damage drugs and alcohol can do to the brain.
Early life and junior football
Born to Cyril Jr. and Kathy in 1989, Rioli was introduced into a bloodline of talented footballers. His grandfather Cyril Sr. fathered Cyril Jr., who was a champion footballer in the Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
and his brother, Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
Norm Smith Medal
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match.-History:The Norm Smith Medal is named after former Melbourne player and coach, Norm Smith...
list Maurice Rioli
Maurice Rioli
Maurice Rioli was an Australian rules football player best known for his time spent with the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League...
. Cyril Jr. played for Northern Territory Football League
Northern Territory Football League
The Northern Territory Football League is an 8 team Australian rules football semi-professional league operating in Darwin in the Northern Territory.The premier grade is the largest Australian rules football league in the Northern Territory...
club St Marys
St Marys Football Club
The St Marys Football Club, nicknamed, Saints, formed in 1952 is a member club of the Northern Territory Football League. It is famous for its record of success, with 28 NTFL premierships and 55 out of 57 possible final appearances....
, where he won 12 premiership medallions and the 1995–96 Nichols Medal as the league's best and fairest player. His mother Kathy is two-time premiership player and 1993 Norm Smith Medallist Michael Long's sister. Rioli has a sister named Kalisha and another former footballer, Dean Rioli
Dean Rioli
Dean Rioli is an indigenous former Australian rules football player who spent his whole professional career with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League....
, is his cousin. He spent the first eight years of his life in the Tiwi Islands
Tiwi Islands
The Tiwi Islands are part of Australia's Northern Territory, north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea joins the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island and Bathurst Island, with a combined area of ....
before moving with his family to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, playing his younger years at St Marys also.
Rioli moved to Melbourne in 2004 as a 14 year old, where he attended and boarded
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
at Scotch College
Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
for four years whilst playing for the school's football team. The move came about after a decade-long relationship between the school and Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory. Dr. Rob Smith, a teacher at Scotch College, had expanded the school's four-week exchange program for talented Indigenous footballers into a full scholarship program, following numerous tours of the Tiwi Islands and specifically, Bathurst Island. Rioli was the first selected into the program. He originally made the trip alongside his cousin Steven, after just three days in Melbourne the two re-packed their bags with the intention of returning home. In an effort to retain the boys, Smith phoned Michael Long, who came out to the school with Derek Kickett
Derek Kickett
Derek Thomas Kickett is a former Australian rules footballer. A journeyman, Kickett played with seven different VFL/AFL, WAFL and SANFL clubs through his career....
and Sibby Rioli, another uncle. Long said he knew Cyril was making a life-defining choice at just 14; "That was the big moment, whether he'd tough it out or go". Steven returned home and Cyril persisted in Melbourne. Nicknamed "Junior" or "Junior Boy", he shone in his final season with Scotch College, despite suffering injuries throughout the season; including a broken collarbone and a severely damaged ankle. He developed somewhat of a cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
whilst playing for the school, following a video clip of his highlights being uploaded to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. He has since stated that he believes the early move to school in Melbourne made the transition a lot easier.
Rioli was also a standout performer in the 2007 AFL national under 18 championships, becoming the only Northern Territorian
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
to earn All-Australian
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
honours, following a seven-goal performance in a match against Queensland. He was tipped to go high in the national draft, from anywhere between five and twenty-five. In this final year of junior football, he was one of five players, including Trent Cotchin
Trent Cotchin
Trent William Cotchin is an Australian rules football player who was recruited at pick 2 in the 2007 AFL Draft by the Richmond Football Club. He was recruited from the Northern Knights under 18 football club, which made the preliminary finals of the 2007 TAC Cup competition...
, to be chronicled in the book The Draft: Inside the AFL's Search for Talent, by The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
journalist Emma Quayle
Emma Quayle
Emma Quayle is a journalist at The Age newspaper in Melbourne, Australia. Joining as a cadet in 1999, she has covered sport since 2001, specialising in Australian Football League football. Quayle won AFL Media Association Awards in 2005 and 2006 for her coverage of under-18 football and the AFL...
.
Despite Rioli's speed, evasiveness and flashy tricks, the scouts at the AFL's draft camp were still to be convinced of his dedication, with his skin folds being described as "less than brilliant" and his commitment to AFL still being questionable. Prior to the draft, Rioli said "I have had a few clubs call me, and it's just confusing. I love playing footy, and I think I am pretty good at it, but it doesn't really matter where (I go in the draft)." He reportedly spoke to both the Kangaroos
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
and the Adelaide Crows, before eventually being drafted by the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in the 2007 AFL Draft
2007 AFL Draft
The 2007 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2007/08 Australian Football League off-season. These were trade week, the National Draft, the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft.- Trades :...
. The Hawks used their first-round draft pick and the number 12 pick overall to claim Rioli.
2008: Debut season and premiership
Just four days after being drafted by the Hawks, Rioli was ordered to urgently organise a passport so he could attend the club's trek of the Kokoda TrackKokoda Track
The Kokoda Trail or Track is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs overland — in a straight line — through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea...
. He covered 90% of his first pre-season schedule for the club; a very high volume of work for a first-year player according to the head fitness coach Andrew Russell. Russell said, "Nobody that I worked with in the last four years at Hawthorn did that much in their first pre-season." After debuting against the Melbourne Demons
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in round one, Rioli had a standout first season in the AFL. He was nominated for the 2008 AFL Rising Star Award
2008 AFL Rising Star
The AFL Rising Star award is given annually to a stand out young player in the Australian Football League. The 2008 Ron Evans medal was given to Rhys Palmer from the Fremantle Football Club.-Eligibility and Nominations:...
in round six against the Richmond Tigers
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
, after gathering nineteen possessions and kicking two goals, one of which was a nominee for Goal of the Year
Goal of the Year (Australia)
The Goal of the Year is a competition for the best goals kicked in the VFL/AFL during that season. It is run in conjunction with the Mark of the Year competition and is currently sponsored by Panasonic. The award is also known as the Phil Manassa Medal....
.
Following his early performances in the season, he was described as a speedy left-footer that played an important role in Hawthorn's forward line during their unbeaten start to the year. It was well documented that Rioli had provided a "massive spark" in and around packs, with his chasing and pressuring as teams tried to rebound
Rebound (sports)
Rebound is a term used in sports to describe the ball becoming available for possession by either opponent after an attempt to put the ball or puck into the goal has been unsuccessful...
even becoming an inspiration to opposition teams. After a "stunning" debut season, Hawthorn decided to give Rioli a break during the finals campaign and sent him home for four days between the qualifying final and the preliminary finals. He returned physically and mentally refreshed, with an inspirational performance in the Grand Final
2008 AFL Grand Final
The 2008 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football match contested between the Geelong Football Club and the Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on the 27th of September 2008...
. His impact on the game was described as instrumental as Hawthorn defeated Geelong, in the club's first premiership since 1991. Rioli assisted in a couple of first quarter goals and kicked two goals for himself in the final, after the game Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson
Alastair Clarkson
Alastair Clarkson is a former Australian rules footballer and current coach of the Hawthorn Football Club.- North Melbourne :...
said, "We knew Cyril was a beauty, but you just never anticipate that they're going to play every game of the season and be able to play in a grand final." With nothing but praise for Rioli, Clarkson also made mention of his achievements in 2008, "He's got a premiership medal now, but he's been in contention for mark of the year, goal of the year and the rising star and he's been very, very consistent. He's a 15-possession, five-tackle a game player with a goal or two – he's been a sensational acquisition to our club."
Rioli finished second overall in the 2008 AFL Rising Star Award, from which he was nominated for in round six. The award was won by Fremantle's
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
Rhys Palmer
Rhys Palmer
Rhys Palmer is an Australian rules footballer who is currently contracted to in the Australian Football League. He previously played for , and won the AFL Rising Star award in 2008.-Early life:...
with 44 votes, ahead of Rioli on 37. Michael Voss
Michael Voss
Michael Voss is the senior coach of the Brisbane Lions Australian Football League team and a former professional Australian rules footballer....
went as far as predicting Rioli would be only the fourth first year player to be selected in the All-Australian team
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
, but it did not eventuate. He came in sixth overall in Hawthorn's Peter Crimmins Medal
Peter Crimmins Medal
The Peter Crimmins Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player from the Hawthorn Football Club deemed best and fairest for the season.Peter Crimmins was a rover for Hawthorn, playing 1966-1975...
(Best and fairest award) and received his first two Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
votes for his performance against the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
in round 19.
2009: First injury and Hawthorn's premiership hangover
In February 2009, Rioli was selected for the Indigenous All-Stars that played a pre-season match against the Adelaide Football Club. Following his successful debut season and promising start to his second, he was compared to Gary Ablett Jr., who also began his career as a small forwardForward pocket
In Australian rules football, the forward pocket refers to a position on the field deep in offense.Forward pocket players, situated in the forward line, need to have good avoidance and goal sneak skills and usually, quality forward-pockets are noted for their agility and ability to score difficult...
with the potential to become a "dominant, match-winning midfielder". This was due to the "sublime skills" he displays, and his "ability to make something out of nothing with vision and an instinct for the game." Former footballer and journalist Garry Lyon
Garry Lyon
Garry Peter Lyon is a former professional Australian rules football player and was captain of the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League. Since his retirement from football, he has been mainly an Australian rules football media personality, featuring on television, radio and in...
said in an article for The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
, that when Rioli is ready to take on a greater workload in the midfield, will be determined by his physical and aerobic capacity
VO2 max
VO2 max is the maximum capacity of an individual's body to transport and use oxygen during incremental exercise, which reflects the physical fitness of the individual...
. Rioli's greatest challenge in the coming 12 months being to incorporate the "gut" running into his game that the likes of Ablett, Chris Judd
Chris Judd
Christopher Dylan "Chris" Judd is a professional Australian rules footballer and current captain of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
, Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes is a professional Australian rules footballer playing with St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League.Hayes is a former captain of St Kilda and continues to be an onfield leader in the Saints' midfield....
and Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk is a former Australian rules football player of the Sydney Swans, and is known colloquially as "Kirky", "Captain Kirk", during the 2005 AFL Finals Series, "Captain Blood" and by teammates as "Hippy". Kirk is a hard working and onfield leader who has played in a premiership with the...
have mastered.
In May, journalist Mike Sheahan
Mike Sheahan
Michael "Mike" Sheahan is an Australian journalist who specialises in Australian rules football. He is Chief Football Writer and Associate Sports Editor for the Herald Sun, a panelist on the Fox Sports program "On the Couch" and former Media Director for the VFL .Sheahan attended Werribee High...
proclaimed that Rioli's exploits on the field were being overlooked. He said whilst Hawthorn as a club was being analysed and dissected, Rioli wasn't getting the recognition he deserved. According to Champion Data, only captain Sam Mitchell
Sam Mitchell (footballer)
Samuel Mitchell is an Australian rules football player for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League .- Debut season :...
had been more effective for Hawthorn at this time in the year. Following 36 consecutive games after being drafted, Rioli tore his hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
in round 11 2009 against the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
. Missing his first regular season match in round 12, he spent a month on the sidelines before returning against North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in round 15. The Hawks were defeated in all three games he missed. His return was described as a "big boost" for Hawthorn's last-ditch bid to revive its season, after many commentators said the club was suffering a "premiership hangover". Following his return, it was announced that Rioli had re-signed with Hawthorn for a further three years. Hawthorn eventually faultered in the final round of the home and away season, losing to Essendon by 17 points. Thus, failing to qualify for the finals. Rioli's season was however, still seen as impressive. In the AFL website's end of year review, it was predicted that he will be considered an elite AFL player in the coming years.
Approaching the end of the 2009 season, Rioli bought his first apartment and declared his allegiance to spending his whole career with Hawthorn, he also revealed his intentions to help bring more players down from the Northern Territory; "That's the real goal for me, to get more kids drafted from the Northern Territory." After Hawthorn's demise in 2009, Rioli gave his support to a project which aims to teach Indigenous people in remote areas about the damage drugs and alcohol can do to the brain. An image of him is used in flip charts developed by the Menzies School of Health Research as an example of a person with a healthy brain. Sheree Cairney, the lead researcher at Menzies School, says there is a lack of knowledge in remote communities about how to treat drug and alcohol addiction, with the problem being "very, very widespread." At the end of 2009, he was awarded the AFL Players Association
AFL Players Association
The AFL Players Association, or AFLPA, is the representative body for all current and past professional Australian Football League players....
award for Best Young Player, covering his first two years in football. He also received the Phil Manassa Medal (Goal of the Year award
Goal of the Year (Australia)
The Goal of the Year is a competition for the best goals kicked in the VFL/AFL during that season. It is run in conjunction with the Mark of the Year competition and is currently sponsored by Panasonic. The award is also known as the Phil Manassa Medal....
) for his round seven effort against Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, and came second in the Peter Crimmins Medal behind the club's captain Sam Mitchell.
Statistics
- Statistics are correct as of 7 September 2010 (end of season)
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Disposals | Kicks | Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Tackles | Goals | Behinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 2010 AFL season -Premiership season:The draw for the 2010 AFL Premiership Season is not a random selection of matches, but rather is planned by the AFL. It is intended to produce a balanced draw while also providing the fans and television networks with blockbuster games. In a competition with 16 teams and 22... |
Hawthorn | 33 | 20 | 17.3 | 10.2 | 7.3 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 0.5 |
| 2009 2009 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:... |
19 | 15.6 | 8.8 | 6.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | ||
| 2008 2008 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:... |
25 | 13.8 | 8 | 5.8 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 | ||
| Career Averages | 15.4 | 8.9 | 6.5 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 0.8 | |||
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Disposals | Kicks | Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Tackles | Goals | Behinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 2010 AFL season -Premiership season:The draw for the 2010 AFL Premiership Season is not a random selection of matches, but rather is planned by the AFL. It is intended to produce a balanced draw while also providing the fans and television networks with blockbuster games. In a competition with 16 teams and 22... |
Hawthorn | 33 | 20 | 346 | 203 | 143 | 81 | 98 | 27 | 10 |
| 2009 2009 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:... |
19 | 297 | 168 | 129 | 74 | 89 | 21 | 21 | ||
| 2008 2008 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:... |
25 | 345 | 200 | 145 | 98 | 87 | 24 | 19 | ||
| Career Totals | 64 | 988 | 571 | 417 | 253 | 274 | 72 | 50 | ||
Honours and achievements
| Brownlow Medal Brownlow Medal The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game... votes |
|
| Season | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2008 2008 Brownlow Medal The 2008 Brownlow Medal was awarded to Adam Cooney of the Western Bulldogs, who was adjudged to have been the best and fairest player during the 2008 Australian Football League home and away season. It is the most prestigious individual award in Australian rules football and was held at the Crown... |
2 |
| 2009 2009 Brownlow Medal -Voting Procedure:The three field umpires confer after each match and award 3 votes, 2 votes and 1 vote to the players they regard as the best, second best and third best in the match respectively.-Ineligible players:As the award is for the Best and Fairest player in the league, players found guilty... |
2 |
| 2010 2010 Brownlow Medal The Brownlow Medal is the most prestigious individual award in Australian rules football and was awarded in 2010 to Chris Judd from the Carlton Football Club for being voted as the fairest and best during the 2010 Australian Football League home and away season. The vote counting ceremony was held... |
6 |
| Total | 10 |
Team
- AFL Premiership2008 AFL Grand FinalThe 2008 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football match contested between the Geelong Football Club and the Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on the 27th of September 2008...
(Hawthorn): 2008
Individual
- U/18 All-AustralianAll-Australian TeamThe All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
: 2007 - AFL Rising Star Award2008 AFL Rising StarThe AFL Rising Star award is given annually to a stand out young player in the Australian Football League. The 2008 Ron Evans medal was given to Rhys Palmer from the Fremantle Football Club.-Eligibility and Nominations:...
nominee, round 6 2008 - AFL Goal of the YearGoal of the Year (Australia)The Goal of the Year is a competition for the best goals kicked in the VFL/AFL during that season. It is run in conjunction with the Mark of the Year competition and is currently sponsored by Panasonic. The award is also known as the Phil Manassa Medal....
nominee, round 6 2008 - AFL Rising Star Award2008 AFL Rising StarThe AFL Rising Star award is given annually to a stand out young player in the Australian Football League. The 2008 Ron Evans medal was given to Rhys Palmer from the Fremantle Football Club.-Eligibility and Nominations:...
runner-up: 2008 - Peter Crimmins MedalPeter Crimmins MedalThe Peter Crimmins Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player from the Hawthorn Football Club deemed best and fairest for the season.Peter Crimmins was a rover for Hawthorn, playing 1966-1975...
(Club best and fairest), sixth place, 2008 - AFLPA Best Young PlayerAFL Players AssociationThe AFL Players Association, or AFLPA, is the representative body for all current and past professional Australian Football League players....
2008–2009 - AFL Goal of the YearGoal of the Year (Australia)The Goal of the Year is a competition for the best goals kicked in the VFL/AFL during that season. It is run in conjunction with the Mark of the Year competition and is currently sponsored by Panasonic. The award is also known as the Phil Manassa Medal....
Winner, round 7 2009 - Peter Crimmins Medal, second place, 2009
- Peter Crimmins Medal, fourth place, 2010