Cyril Rioli retires: AFL rivals pay tribute to Hawthorn star

HAWTHORN premiership star Cyril Rioli shocked the football world with his immediate retirement. His departure prompted an outpouring of respect from rivals including the man who played on ‘Junior Boy’ more often than any other.

NICK Smith, the Sydney small defender who played on Cyril Rioli more than any other, last night described the retirement of his friend and opponent as “such a shame”.

Smith, 30, spent two years playing alongside Rioli at scotch College, in 2005 witnessing “Junior Boy’s” 11 goals against Wesley in an APS match. BEST EVER?: CYRIL THE MAN FOR THE MOMENT GUN HUNT: WHAT RIOLI’S DEPARTURE MEANS FOR HAWKS’ CAP The pair would then go on to play “maybe 15 times” on each other, including the 2012 and 2014 AFL Grand Finals in which Smith had the upper hand. But his most recent memory isn’t as pleasing. AFL DAILY: SCROLL DOWN TO REVIEW ALL TODAY’S CYRIL-DOMINATED FOOTY NEWS IN OUR BLOG “It’s such a shame that he’s finished, but if that’s what he wants to do then I fully respect his decision. In the early days we played on each other a lot when footy was a bit different,” said Smith. The best of Cyril Rioli “I wouldn’t ever say that I learnt how to play on him. Forever and a day I prepare for a game by watching the vision of who I’m going to play on and say “yep, if I do that, I’ll beat them there” and “if I do that, I can stop them”. “But there were some things I would watch on a tape that Junior could do where I’d sit there thinking ‘I’m not sure if I can stop that no matter what I do’. He was just a freak.” Most recently Rioli got the upper hand in Round 17 of the 2016 season at the SCG when he marked and kicked the winning goal, something Smith still ranks as one of his poorer memories. Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW > But his respect for Rioli will always be immense: “We would say G’day before the game but nothing until after the match,” said Smith. “From my end there is an enormous amount of respect for the way he went about it and the sort of bloke he is,” Smith said. “We don’t call each other on the phone and stuff like that, but we’ll always have a friendship. He hasn’t changed much since his school days, reserved yet cheeky at the same time. “And as a player he was a guy coaches would love to have because of perceived pressure. He could catch two blokes early in a game which would cause guys to be watching for the rest of the game. Just his presence without the ball was super as well.” The best of Cyril Rioli Rioli’s retirement might have shocked the AFL community, but only confirmed what the Hawthorn had feared since last October. The 29-year-old will return to Darwin with a resume that includes four premierships, a Norm Smith Medal, 189 games and two runner-up finishes in the best-and-fairest. But while some fans had hoped he might return this year, the Hawks have been aware since last October of the pull of home. Rioli nearly retired over the off-season, then spent time away from the club in two stints this year in Darwin with his father, known as Cyril Jr. When Rioli confirmed to the club’s inner sanctum on Tuesday night he would retire it confirmed what they had expected for most of the year. Cyril Jr, a St Mary’s great who won 12 NTFL flags, had heart surgery last year after suffering a heart attack in September, the latest Rioli family member to battle heart issues. Cyril’s departure leaves only Grant Birchall and Jarryd Roughead as Hawks stars on the list to have taken part in the four premierships from 2008-15. “A bit of everything (brought on the decision) to be honest,” Rioli told Channel 7. “When I got back I thought ‘Yep, I’ll be OK.’ “But with all these emotions and injury, it is probably not the right time but it is the right time I guess for me and my wife to go home (to Darwin).” Rioli said he contemplated retirement last year when his father, Cyril Sr, had a massive heart attack. “When the dad stuff happened, I truly probably lost that fire or that desire to compete or to play,” Rioli said. “It was just hard being away from home, and I remember to this day getting the call and the missed calls from his partner Dana. “From then on it has been pretty difficult being away from home.” Hawthorn legend Leigh Matthews told the Herald Sun he believed Rioli would find his way into football’s Hall of Fame. “Cyril is an unusual player because he’s not a prolific player but it’s just the wow factor. He is a special things type of player,” he said. “He has won a Norm Smith and is three times an All Australian. That has to put you into the Hall of Fame territory. “He has just been a bloody valuable player.” “I reckon Gary Ablett Snr would probably have the best highlights of any player in the last 50 years, I suspect, but I reckon Cyril’s highlight reel would be pretty special, as Bruce (McAvaney) would say.” Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said few AFL players had been capable of such eye-catching brilliance. “He hasn’t just been enjoyed by Hawthorn supporters, he has been an asset and an icon of the game,” he said. “His natural handling and disposing of the ball have given us all so much joy in the last 11 years. He leaves on a high, he leaves on his own time. “Sometimes we hang on too long but he leaves at the peak of his career. “He will always be an important part of Hawthorn’s history. His legacy will always be there for young men to emulate in terms of his skill. “The question is whether anyone will be capable.”

Originally published as Cyril Rioli retires: AFL rivals pay tribute to Hawthorn star