Hawthorn great and Norm Smith medallists Cyril Rioli is set for a football comeback this year
Cyril Rioli will return to football and the spotlight for the first time since his messy exit from the game and a lengthy battle with his former club.
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AFL great Cyril Rioli will make his first public football comeback since his messy exit and prolonged absence from the game when he runs out in the reborn EJ Whitten Legends Game.
After a six-year break, the charity match is returning in August with a raft of big names locked in, including Rioli and Gary Ablett Jr.
Rioli, a four-time premiership player and Norm Smith Medal winner, was unveiled as the All Stars’ No.1 pick on Tuesday morning.
The selection of the former excitement machine is a positive sign after he was involved in a lengthy battle with his former club Hawthorn over historical claims of racism, including some levelled at his premiership coach Alastair Clarkson that were first raised in 2022.
The matter involved mediation and court proceedings before being settled by the Human Rights Commission in May without a determination of the allegations.
Rioli has played several matches in the Northern Territory but has lived a concealed life since his premature retirement.
Another all-time great in Gary Ablett Jr was named Victoria’s No.1 pick.
All Stars coach Shane Crawford said he was looking for a “bums on seats player” and found the perfect type in his former premiership teammate.
“We thought we might go with Kane Cornes when they said (Gary) Ablett Jr so we could tag him,” Crawford told SEN.
“Our No.1 pick, we want to have fun, we’ve gone the ultimate ‘No.1 bums on seats player’.
“A player with one of the all-time great highlight reels in the history of the games and that is Cyril Rioli.”
There was a report earlier this year that Rioli pondered an AFL return under coach Alastair Clarkson when he accepted the role as North Melbourne coach.
Rioli’s return never eventuated but he will lace up the boots at Marvel Stadium for the charity match on Thursday, August 28.
Originally published as Hawthorn great and Norm Smith medallists Cyril Rioli is set for a football comeback this year
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