Hawthorn fans dare to dream after Cyril Rioli’s comeback tease on social media

Cyril Rioli has left fans dreaming of a Christmas miracle after teasing a possible AFL comeback to Hawthorn supporters on social media.

Cyril Rioli has sent AFL supporters into a frenzy after a cryptic social media comment hinted at a return to the AFL.

Rioli replied to a post by Instagram fan page @hawthornzone with a GIF captioned ‘job’s not finished’ before revealing he’s received “no contract offers as yet”.

The 34 year-old played his last AFL match over five years ago in 2018, retiring to return home to Darwin.

Cyril Rioli's comeback tease on Instagram.

Cyril Rioli enjoys a goal in 2016. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

His relationship with Hawthorn has since soured, with Rioli revealed as one of the six complainants in the racism saga that rocked football.

That saga seemingly scuppered any hopes of an unlikely comeback, but Rioli’s Christmas Eve tease has fans daring to dream.

When he travelled to Darwin last year, News Corp reporter Sam Landsberger noted Rioli ‘looks like he could play AFL tomorrow’.

The complainants — including Rioli — officially lodged proceedings with the Australian Human Rights Commission in June.