Hawks legend Cyril Rioli drops into Adelaide for Scotch College awards show

Students at one of Adelaide’s most prestigious schools have come face-to-face with one of the biggest names in recent Aussie sporting history.

Former Hawthorn premiership hero Cyril Rioli, who is at the centre of his ex-club’s racism scandal, visited Adelaide on Friday to present awards at prestigious Scotch College.

Seven News reported that Rioli, who attended Scotch in Melbourne, had presented awards to First Nations students as part of National Reconciliation Week.

Cyril Rioli, on campus today for a very special Reconciliation Week Assembly at Scotch College, Adelaide Picture: Facebook

It reported Rioli made no comment on the problems engulfing Hawthorn, his appearance coming before an explosive statement from the families at the centre of the scandal.

In the statement, Rioli, wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, Carl Peterson, Jermaine Miller-Lewis and wife Montanah and former Hawks staffer Leon Egan say they have been “gutted” not to have had their stories heard by those at the centre of harrowing allegations.

Cyril Rioli, on campus today for a very special Reconciliation Week Assembly at Scotch College, Adelaide Picture: Facebook

Three days after league chief executive Gillon McLachlan announced that the AFL’s independent investigation into the saga had been shut down and an “imperfect resolution” reached with the families, the group officially lodged proceedings in the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The group – which is adamant it “never asked for money” – say they are determined to ensure the “truths that they don’t want to hear” are heard.

“It doesn’t change our truth. None of us deserved this public s***show – including them,’’ the letter says.

Kisses before bounce: Power stars’ in emotional opening scenes

By Douglas Smith

Port Adelaide teammates Sam Powell-Pepper and Jeremy Finlayson ran out onto Adelaide Oval with their children on Saturday to mark the end of Reconciliation Week.

As the team came through the tunnel onto the oval, lead by Finlayson and Powell-Pepper, the pair was met by their wives and two daughters.

Jeremy Finlayson of Port Adelaide runs towards his wife Kellie and daughter Sophia before the round 12 AFL match between Port Adelaide Power and Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval, June3, 2023. Picture: Mark Brake / Getty

A beautiful moment before kick off. Picture: James Elsby / Getty

Jeremy Finlayson of the Power with wife Kellie and daughter Sophia. Picture: James Elsby /Getty Images

Bray Waghorn with daughter Frankie, and Kellie Finlayson and daughter Sophia. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Powell-Pepper’s daughter Frankie Rose and Finlayson’s daughter Sophia were carried by their fathers as the team ran through the banner ahead of their round 12 clash against Hawthorn.

Finlayson scored the first goal in the first 20 seconds of the game with a cheeky crumb from 25 metres out in front to put the Power on the scoreboard.

A few minutes later, he scored his second with a shot from 25 metres after a free kick.

Powell-Pepper is a Whadjuk and Ballardong man from Western Australia while Finlayson descends from the Yorta Yorta people of northern Victoria.

The two teammates and their families are a close-knit group off the field, with Powell-Pepper featuring as one of the groomsmen at Jeremy and Kellie Finlayson’s wedding in early March.