Some of the greatest names in the game have backflipped on retirement to varying results
RUMOURS swirled this week that Cyril Rioli could be lured to Brisbane. If the Hawks star did lace up the boots again he would join some of the greatest players in history to have backflipped on retirement.
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RUMOURS swirled this week that Cyril Rioli could be lured out of retirement.
Hawthorn’s four-time flag star hung up the boots in July but whispers suggested Hawks premiership captain Luke Hodge was trying to lure Rioli to Brisbane.
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While Rioli’s return remains long odds, some of the game’s greatest names have announced their retirement only to backflip.
For some - such as Hodge - it was only a matter of weeks - while others have returned after years out of the game.
LUKE HODGE (Hawthorn-Brisbane)
The three-time Hawthorn premiership captain called time on his career in July 2017, but by mid-October he was a member of the Brisbane Lions.
Hodge was recruited to mentor the Lions young talent and on face value has been one of the recruits of the year having played 16 of 19 games and averaged 19 disposals.
TONY LOCKETT (Sydney-Sydney)
The game’s greatest goalkicker made an ill-fated return with Sydney in 2002. After retiring in 1999, Lockett was lured back after two years out of the game. However, the comeback lasted just three games and three goals before the full-forward again called time on his career.
Finishing with a record 1360 goals, Lockett was elevated to Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend earlier this year.
GARY ABLETT SNR (Hawthorn-Geelong) & (Geelong-Geelong)
The only man on this list to return from retirement twice. First, Ablett played one season at Hawthorn in 1982 before stepped away from the game. After a stint at Ovens and Murray club Myrtleford, he was lured to Geelong and became one of the most dangerous forwards in the game.
However, after a difficult 1990 season, Ablett announced his retirement in February 1991. That decision didn’t last long with Ablett back in the Geelong line-up by Round 13 and after a solid 1992 season he went on to win the Coleman Medal in 1993, 1994 and 1995.
MAL MICHAEL (Brisbane-Essendon)
A three-time premiership player at Brisbane, Michael surprised the AFL world by announcing his retirement at age 29. However, a bigger shock was to come as the key defender announced he was making a comeback ... 50 days after hanging up the boots.
Angering the Lions, Michael revealed he had agreed terms with Essendon and the Bombers duly selected him with the No.2 pick in the 2007 pre-season draft. Michael went on to play 37 games for Essendon before retiring permanently in 2008.
PAUL SALMON (Hawthorn-Essendon)
The big Fish had a storied career at Essendon and then at Hawthorn before hanging up the boots at the end of 2000. However, his former coach Kevin Sheedy lured him back to Windy Hill for the 2002 season. It was a solid season for the then 37-year-old as he played 15 games, kicked 11.3 and averaged 15 hitouts.
TIM WATSON (Essendon-Essendon)
Watson was Essendon captain when he retired in 1991 and stepped straight into a commentary role with Channel 7 for the 1992 season. The veteran midfielder was actually drafted by West Coast for the 1992 season but turned down the Eagles’ advances and was delisted at the end of the season.
It paved the way for a comeback with the Bombers in 1993, a fortuitous return for Watson as he snared a third premiership with the Baby Bombers, playing as a small forward. Watson played 16 games in his comeback year and kicked 26 goals. He would play another nine in 1994 - including his 300th - before retiring for good.
FRASER GEHRIG (St Kilda-St Kilda)
After moving from West Coast to St Kilda, Gehrig was one of the most damaging forwards in the game in the mid-2000s. However, before the final game of 2007, Gehrig announced his retirement and was chaired from the ground.
Yet, that decision didn’t last long. Just a matter of months later, Gehrig was on the comeback trail and after being removed from the Saints’ list had to be redrafted. Sadly, the return wasn’t a success and Gehrig played just five games in 2008, kicking nine goals.
ALLEN JAKOVICH (Melbourne-Footscray)
Jakovich was one of the most mercurial forwards of the 1990s and kicked his 100th career goal in his 21st game for Melbourne, equalling the great John Coleman’s record. However, a back injury saw him exit the Demons after 1994.
After a year out of the game, Jakovich was drafted by Footscray, with the No.9 draft pick. That decision would haunt the Dogs as Jakovich would play just seven games for a return of seven goals. Simon Prestigiacomo was taken at No.10 at Collingwood. The likes of Brent Harvey, Darren Milburn, Barry Hall and Kane Johnson were all taken with later picks.
MARK BAIRSTOW (Geelong-Geelong)
After Geelong’s loss in the iconic 1989 Grand Final, Bairstow retired after just three years in the VFL. He returned to Lake Grace, Western Australia - also the home of Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe - playing local football.
However, he was lured back to Kardinia Park for the 1991 season and would become of the league’s best midfielders, captaining the club between 1992 and 1994. However, Malcolm Blight’s exit at the end of 1994 also saw Bairstow’s time at the Cats come to an end.
PETER HUDSON (Hawthorn-Hawthorn)
One of the greatest goalkickers to grace an Aussie Rules field. Hudson suffered serious knee injuries in 1972 and 1974 and returned to Tasmania with his VFL career seemingly over.
However, after a two years playing and coaching Glenorchy, Hudson returned to Hawthorn for the 1977 season. It was a comeback of epic proportions as he kicked 110 goals to claim the Coleman Medal but despite finishing second, the Hawks were upset in the preliminary final but eventual premiers North Melbourne.
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