AFL 2025: Cyril Rioli absent from Hawthorn three-peat celebration, Buddy Franklin makes rare appearance
Lance 'Buddy' Franklin made an appearance at Hawthorn's celebration of their 2013-2015 premiership three-peat on Friday night, but a fan favourite was absent from the anniversary function.
Players from Hawthorn's most recent golden premiership era attended a commemorative function in Melbourne, with the club's premiership cups from 2013, 2014 and 2015 proudly on display.
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Franklin played in the 2008 and 2013 premierships with Hawthorn but missed out on the rest of the three-peat after he moved to the Sydney Swans, playing out the rest of his career there and losing three grand finals, including the 2014 decider to Hawthorn.
The legendary goalkicker was in good spirits as he chatted to former Hawks spearhead Jarryd Roughead and the likes of Luke Hodge, Isaac Smith Sam Mitchell.
Franklin, who is expecting his third child with wife Jesinta, didn't attend Hawthorn's 100-year club anniversary earlier this year.
Jarryd Roughead, Buddy Franklin and Sam Mitchell. Photo: Instagram.
Buddy Franklin chats to some of his old Hawthorn teammates. Photo: Instagram.
One fan commented on Instagram: 'Seeing Bud at Hawk functions and talking about Hawthorn warms my heart.'
Franklin now co-hosts a podcast with Hawthorn champion and 2008 premiership teammate Shane Crawford.
But not every player from Hawthorn's premiership three-peat could attend, and one notable absentee was legendary small forward Cyril Rioli.
The 2015 Norm Smith Medallist was one of just six players to play in the three-peat and the 2008 flag, but his relationship with Hawthorn has soured over allegations of racism during his time at Hawthorn.
Some of the players who won premierships with Hawthorn in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Photo: Instagram.
Rioli retired in 2018 after playing 189 games across a career that saw him win Goal of the Year in 2009 and named to the All Australian team on three occasions.
Neither Rioli or former Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, now the coach of North Melbourne, were at the three-peat function.
One fan commented on social media: 'Someone missing', while a second said: 'Where's Cyril?'
A third said: 'Cyril will never come back it's sad.'
Another commented: 'I do miss Cyril hopefully under Mitchell he'll feel comfortable enough to come back.'
Cyril Rioli won the Norm Smith Medal in 2015. (Photo by Michael Dodge/)
In May, triple premiership captain Luke Hodge greeted Rioli at an AFL game in Darwin and stopped to chat to his old teammate in the crowd.
'I hadn't seen him since about 2018,' Hodge said.
'I saw Mark Evans (Gold Coast Suns CEO) talking to him so I just wanted to go over and say g'day. It was good.
'He's looking great and had a smile on his face. He said his cousin was flying out there running across the halfback line. It was great to see him and Shannyn over there.'
Earlier this year, Hodge told Channel 7's Agenda Setters: 'We understand that Hawthorn and Cyril haven't come to the stage where Cyril feels comfortable back in the football club just yet.
'There's been a number of guys that have reached out to Cyril. And we left on really good terms. When he retired he sent me a message saying 'thanks for all the development and help'. I've had no issues with Cyril ever, but it's almost like he's parted ways with everyone there. Even a lot of the mentors in that forward line (at the time he played) haven't been able to connect with him either.'
Hawthorn's four-time premiership players: (L-R) Cyril Rioli, Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead, Grant Birchall and Luke Hodge.
Hawthorn have won premierships in every decade since the 1960s and now as the team's coach, Mitchell will he hoping that streak can continue in the 2020s.
Jordan Lewis, who missed the event due to commentary duties with Fox Footy, said Hawthorn's dominant premiership teams were defined by their 'competitiveness'.
'You need the game plan, you need to be fit and healthy and everything to go right, but if you're not competitive, you can't sustain that long period of success,' Lewis told news.com.au.
'Players recognise that when they've been successful for one year and find it really hard to back it up. Then you really appreciate how good those teams that were able to stay at the top of their game and win multiple premierships in a row.'
The Hawks are fifth on the ladder — they have the bye this weekend and take on North Melbourne in round 16.
Originally published as Hawthorn icon absent from club's premiership three-peat celebration
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The Hawks will be bolstered by the return of young gun Will Day from a foot injury when they play their first game at the MCG since May. Mitch Lewis has recovered well after his comeback match last week and will back up, but teammate Finn Maginness has been ruled out for the rest of the season because of a lacerated kidney. Carlton key forward Harry McKay returns for his first game since round 11 after recovering from minor knee surgery, while Blake Acres has been recalled. Francis Evans and Flynn Young are both out injured. Hawthorn have accepted the role of "villains" as they set out to boost their AFL finals hopes in Carlton hero Sam Docherty's farewell match. Fresh off a win over Port Adelaide, the fifth-placed Hawks (12-6) enter Thursday night's MCG contest as warm favourites intent on locking in a top-eight spot. But the embattled Blues (7-11, 12th) eased pressure on coach Michael Voss with a much-needed win over Melbourne last round and have plenty to play for despite their lowly ladder position. Docherty, who has twice beaten testicular cancer, will play his 184th and final match in a celebrated career that has included three knee reconstructions, a best-and-fairest award and All-Australian selection. Carlton will be desperate to send him off in the right manner and also give vice-captain Jacob Weitering something to celebrate in his 200th game. "We've been dealt the cards of the villain for this one," Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said. "The thing about Sam is it's beyond sport. He's got the three knee reconstructions and coming back from that and still being an All-Australian type player. "But then obviously his cancer treatments and coming back from that means it transcends sport. It's such an inspirational person that he's been. "We'll certainly be trying to ruin his party, but after that I certainly think he's one of the players of this season that needs to be celebrated." Hawthorn have beaten Carlton in their last two meetings, but Mitchell is wary, noting the Blues are the highest-scoring team in first quarters this season. "You can see that they're more than capable and they're going to be playing for a bit with Docherty and a 200th game as well," Mitchell said. "They're going to have a fair bit on, so you'd expect them to come out with a lot of energy and vibrancy." Hawthorn sit two games clear of ninth but face a tough run home, against finals-bound Adelaide, Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions in the last month of the home-and-away campaign. "Every game is as good as a final," Mitchell said. "We understand where we sit and we need to make sure we're very focused on getting the best outcome we can." The Hawks will be bolstered by the return of young gun Will Day from a foot injury when they play their first game at the MCG since May. Mitch Lewis has recovered well after his comeback match last week and will back up, but teammate Finn Maginness has been ruled out for the rest of the season because of a lacerated kidney. Carlton key forward Harry McKay returns for his first game since round 11 after recovering from minor knee surgery, while Blake Acres has been recalled. Francis Evans and Flynn Young are both out injured.
