AFL Grand Final 2015: Cyril Rioli one of the most popular ever Norm Smith medallists
CYRIL Rioli showed why he’s one of the most popular Norm Smith medallists in history as he dedicated the award to a murdered friend.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IN THE hottest ever Grand Final, Cyril Rioli was as hot as ever.
Burning to play for his late cousin Fabian Brock, Rioli burned West Coast.
Brock, who was shot dead in a Darwin suburb in June, was Rioli’s “driving force” in a Norm Smith medal performance dripping in surgical brilliance.
In what coach Alastair Clarkson described as an “extraordinary part of the history of our game”, Rioli follows in the footsteps of his two uncles - Maurice Rioli in 1982 and Michael Long in 1993 - as a Norm Smith medallist.
A year after limping into a Grand Final against Sydney, Rioli shredded the so-called Weagles Web. He had a staggering 11 score involvements, meaning he had a direct hand in 11 of Hawthorn’s 16 goals.
By the time the final siren started the party for Hawthorn’s third straight flag, the chant of “Rioli, Rioli” was echoing around the MCG. Rioli finished with 18 possessions, 12 marks, two goals and an immeasurable amount of influence on a 46-point win.
Norm Smith Medal voting: 13 - C Rioli 33322. 9 - S Mitchell 3321. 4 - J Frawley 211. 2 - L Hodge 2. 1 - I Smith 1. 1- S Burgoyne 1.
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) October 3, 2015
Norm Smith Judges (321) P Bell (chairman) - Rioli Mitchell Burgoyne D Brereton - Mitchell Rioli Frawley M Thompson - Mitchell Rioli Smith
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) October 3, 2015
Norm Smith Judges pt2 G McKenna - Rioli Frawley Mitchell P Lalor - Rioli Hodge Frawley. Ends
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) October 3, 2015
The 12 marks were a career-high as he made a mockery of the Eagles’ famed zone defence, surging into space. Fifteen of his 18 disposals came in the forward half and in an era of junk stats, everything he did was match-defining in its quality.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to follow in my uncle’s footsteps and very humbling to receive the award and get it from Andrew McLeod,” Rioli said beneath the MCG, his two medals clinking around his neck.
“My cousin passed away mid-year and I missed the Bombers game. That was my driving force for the second half of the year and I dedicated the games to him.”
‘WE WANT TO DO IT FOR YOU’: RATTEN TELLS OF VISIT TO SON’S GRAVE
Rioli also paid tribute to Clarkson, with whom he shares a special relationship.
“Clarko has come up home. He’s out-shot me when I took him out shooting. He shot a couple of geese,” Rioli said.
Clarkson, chuckling, chips in: “Poor geese; they were stiff.”
Rioli said: “His love for family is just unreal and to come up north and spend time with my family, he’s a top guy and he’s been there from day one of my career and hopefully he’s around until I finish.”
In the jubilant Hawthorn rooms, the tributes for Rioli flowed as free as the amber ale.
“Oh, I love it. I got a bit emotional, to be honest, when he walked up there,” Shaun Burgoyne said.
“He deserves everything that comes his way, he’s unbelievable with the energy and spirit he gives our group.”
Jarryd Roughead said: “Love him. Mate, when you’ve got 100,000 people chanting your name you know you’ve had a bloody good day, dont you?”
MATCH REPORT: FLAWLESS HAWKS DO IT AGAIN
MARK ROBINSON: HAWK FLAG A THING OF RARE BEAUTY
Rioli’s father Cyril Jr was standing up against a wall smiling quietly at the celebrations unfolding around him.
“His eighth season, four premierships and to win a Norm Smith and equal his uncles, I’m very proud at the moment,” Cyril Jr said.
“I think after the first week at Scotch College (when he was boarding at 14) ... he wanted to come home, but the support of his extended family, Michael (Long) and Dean (Rioli), helped him get there. It’s been a fantastic journey.
“They’ll be a few tears up North tonight. It will be a big night.”
Rioli’s childhood sweetheart Shannyn Ah Sam, was beaming. The pair married 12 months ago.
“I might drop a couple of f-bombs,” she laughed.
“I’m very proud of him, beyond proud of him. I don’t know what to say because people see Cyril Rioli, but I see Junior Boy from back home. He was confident today, very confident.”
BAD REVIEWS: ELLIE GOULDING PANNED FOR PRE-MATCH PERFORMANCE
HEROES AND VILLAINS: EVERY GRAND FINAL PLAYER RATED
When the scene needed to be set early in this Grand Final, Rioli was breathtaking.
While the Eagles melted under the pressure, every time Rioli touched the ball magic ensued. He delivered dagger after dagger in a clinical display, while West Coast looked like they were playing with a bar of soap.
Mark LeCras fumbled a handball, Rioli set up Brad Hill. Shannon Hurn missed from straight in front, Rioli laid it on a platter for Jack Gunston. Jack Darling dropped a sitter, Rioli outmarked Will Schofield and set up Ryan Schoenmakers.
It’s what Grand Finals are about - coping with pressure - and few have ice in the veins like Rioli.
By the seven minute mark of the second quarter, he’d alrady had five score involvements and was unstoppable.
Then he ran down Mark Hutchings from behind and the crowd went wild. The epic effort was captured in a superb sequence of photographs by the Herald Sun’s Colleen Petch.
In the third quarter he intercepted a Jeremy McGovern handball and dished off a handball to Luke Breust in virtually the same motion. It was so quick only the replay revealed its brilliance.
When he marked and lined up for a set shot in the dying minutes, Hawks fans rose in the stands to bow down to him.
Champion Data numbers showed Rioli had eight opponents, which meant he didn’t really have any, and that’s how it looked.
As a kid on the Tiwi Islands, “Junior Boy” would kick around a coke bottle or carefully mould the shape of a Sherrin using old newspapers and masking tape.
It’s difficult to recall a more popular Norm Smith medallist.
TURNING POINTS: SEVEN SUPER GRAND FINAL MOMENTS
LIVE HQ: FULL STATS AND SUPERCOACH POINTS
Max’s Metrics: Numbers behind stars Saint’s staggering contract
Max King has signed an eye-boggling new contract after the Saints lined his numbers up against past greats. They liked what they saw and here is how the spearhead compares to 12 others.
Inside AFL’s draft combine: See the standouts, surprise packet
Draft hopefuls for both the AFL and AFLW were put to the test at this year’s combine, with one Victorian key forward producing a stunning 20m sprint. See the results and more here.