Buddy Franklin to attend Hawks’ premiership reunion but Cyril Rioli will not be in attendance

The Hawks are days away from celebrating one of footy’s greatest eras and while some legends will be attendance for the premiership reunion, other big names are set to skip it.

Buddy Franklin might have played in only one of Hawthorn’s threepeat of premierships from 2013-15, but this century’s greatest goalkicker will be one of the star attractions at the club’s reunion on Friday night.

As the Hawks prepare to celebrate the 10th anniversary of those three successive flags, Franklin will make the trip down from the Gold Coast to rub shoulders with some of the Hawthorn greats.

Hawthorn has invited 2015 Norm Smith medallist Cyril Rioli and four-time premiership mentor and now North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson to the reunion.

Cyril Rioli won’t be at the event. Picture: Colleen Petch.

But Buddy Franklin will. Picture: Michael Klein

This masthead understands Rioli won’t be attending, but it is unclear if Clarkson - who was given a rousing reception when he returned for the Hawks’ 100th anniversary against Richmond last month - would be there.

Franklin played in the first of those three straight flags in 2013 - as well as an earlier premiership in 2008 - before moving to Sydney where he famously took on his former teammates in the 2014 grand final, won by the Hawks.

Franklin was not among the Hawthorn legends who attended the club’s 100th anniversary celebrations at the Round 8 clash with Richmond.

But he has indicated to the Hawks that he will be at the Main Hall at Melbourne Town Hall for Friday’s 2013-15 reunion.

The Hawks are committed to working behind the scenes on repairing their relationship with Rioli - who played in four premierships with the club, including the threepeat - in the wake of last November’s confidential resolution settlement with Indigenous former players and their families.

He attended the Hawks-Suns clash in Darwin last month, but his attendance that night was more about seeing his cousin Daniel play for Gold Coast than any serious thawing of his relations with the club.

It is not yet known if Clarkson, the man who led the Hawks to four premierships in 2008 and 2013-15, will attend the function, given the Kangaroos have an early 1.20pm game against Carlton the following day.

Clarkson was a part of the Hawks’ pre-game 100th anniversary celebrations in May, the first time he had been back since his tense 2021 departure.

At the time he said his return that day was about paying homage to late Hawthorn coaching greats John Kennedy and Allan Jeans.

Newly installed Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Luke Hodge, who was the skipper in those three consecutive triumphs, will be in attendance at Friday’s reunion, along with 2013 Norm Smith medallist Brian Lake and the man who won best and fairests in two of those three years, Josh Gibson.

Originally published as Buddy Franklin to attend Hawks’ premiership reunion but Cyril Rioli will not be in attendance