Latest news with #CyrilRioli
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Hawthorn great and Norm Smith medallist Cyril Rioli set for shock return
AFL great Cyril Rioli will make his first public football comeback since his messy exit and prolonged absence from the game when he runs out in the reborn EJ Whitten Legends Game. After a six-year break, the charity match is returning in August with a raft of big names locked in, including Rioli and Gary Ablett Jr. Rioli, a four-time premiership player and Norm Smith Medal winner, was unveiled as the All Stars' No.1 pick on Tuesday morning. The selection of the former excitement machine is a positive sign after he was involved in a lengthy battle with his former club Hawthorn over historical claims of racism, including some levelled at his premiership coach Alastair Clarkson that were first raised in 2022. The matter involved mediation and court proceedings before being settled by the Human Rights Commission in May without a determination of the allegations. Rioli has played several matches in the Northern Territory but has lived a concealed life since his premature retirement. Another all-time great in Gary Ablett Jr was named Victoria's No.1 pick. All Stars coach Shane Crawford said he was looking for a 'bums on seats player' and found the perfect type in his former premiership teammate. 'We thought we might go with Kane Cornes when they said (Gary) Ablett Jr so we could tag him,' Crawford told SEN. 'Our No.1 pick, we want to have fun, we've gone the ultimate 'No.1 bums on seats player'. 'A player with one of the all-time great highlight reels in the history of the games and that is Cyril Rioli.' There was a report earlier this year that Rioli pondered an AFL return under coach Alastair Clarkson when he accepted the role as North Melbourne coach.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Reclusive AFL great set to make shock return
AFL great Cyril Rioli will make his first public football comeback since his messy exit and prolonged absence from the game when he runs out in the reborn EJ Whitten Legends Game. After a six-year break, the charity match is returning in August with a raft of big names locked in, including Rioli and Gary Ablett Jr. Rioli, a four-time premiership player and Norm Smith Medal winner, was unveiled as the All Stars' No.1 pick on Tuesday morning. The selection of the former excitement machine is a positive sign after he was involved in a lengthy battle with his former club Hawthorn over historical claims of racism, including some levelled at his premiership coach Alastair Clarkson that were first raised in 2022. The matter involved mediation and court proceedings before being settled by the Human Rights Commission in May without a determination of the allegations. Rioli has played several matches in the Northern Territory but has lived a concealed life since his premature retirement. Another all-time great in Gary Ablett Jr was named Victoria's No.1 pick. All Stars coach Shane Crawford said he was looking for a 'bums on seats player' and found the perfect type in his former premiership teammate. 'We thought we might go with Kane Cornes when they said (Gary) Ablett Jr so we could tag him,' Crawford told SEN. 'Our No.1 pick, we want to have fun, we've gone the ultimate 'No.1 bums on seats player'. 'A player with one of the all-time great highlight reels in the history of the games and that is Cyril Rioli.' There was a report earlier this year that Rioli pondered an AFL return under coach Alastair Clarkson when he accepted the role as North Melbourne coach. Rioli's return never eventuated but he will lace up the boots at Marvel Stadium for the charity match on Thursday, August 28.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Why Indigenous AFL star Cyril Rioli - who became a recluse from the game over racism scandal - is making a stunning return to the field
Former Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli is preparing to make a stunning return to football by lacing up his footy boots for the upcoming rebooted Legends Game. The iconic exhibition match is returning for the first time in six years and will be played on August 28 at Marvel Stadium. It's been 10 years since the Indigenous star claimed the 2015 Norm Smith Medal after an electrifying performance in Hawthorn's premiership triumph over West Coast. The 36-year-old fan favourite retired in 2018 and has distanced himself from the game, including not showing up to Hawthorn's celebration of their premiership three-peat earlier this year. Rioli's relationship with the Hawks soured over racism allegations during his years with the club - in a case that was settled in Federal Court last November. The former half forward was the lead applicant in a statement of claim alongside his wife Shannyn, former players Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, his partner Montanah-Rae Lewis and Hawthorn's former Indigenous liaison officer Leon Egan. It was a saga which lasted more than two years after it first surfaced publicly in September of 2022. Racism allegations were aimed against the Hawks, former coach Alastair Clarkson, his former assistant Chris Fagan and ex-welfare manager Jason Burt. The trio were later cleared by the AFL of any alleged wrongdoing following an investigation. The statement of claim included allegations of unlawful discrimination, including family separations and pressuring a pregnancy termination. Rioli claimed that he was regularly subjected to comments that were 'culturally ignorant' during his time at the Hawks from 2008 to 2018. It was reported the players and their families involved in the court proceedings were paid an undisclosed sum following the settlement agreement. Rioli, who lives in Darwin, was recently announced as an assistant coach of Top End footy club the Jabiru Bombers - a team he played for last season and won a premiership with. The footy star's return for Legends Game marks a huge step in repairing his relationship with the game, and will see him play alongside other greats including Nick Riewoldt, Luke Hodge and Gary Ablett Jr. 'We are thrilled to see this iconic event return and for footy fans to be able to watch all the action live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport,' said Seven's head of AFL and sport innovation Gary O'Keefe. 'To see a host of popular personalities, and AFL legends including our own Luke Hodge and Nick Riewoldt come out of retirement for such a great cause is important and will make for exciting viewing.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
AFL great's exile set to end
AFL great Cyril Rioli will make his first public football comeback since his messy exit and prolonged absence from the game when he runs out in the reborn EJ Whitten Legends Game. After a six-year break the charity match is returning in August with a raft of big names locked in including Rioli and Gary Ablett junior. Rioli, a four-time premiership player and Norm Smith Medal winner, was unveiled as the All Stars' No.1 pick on Tuesday morning. The selection of the former excitement machine is a positive sign after he was involved in a lengthy battle with his former club over historical claims of racism including some levelled at his premiership coach, Alastair Clarkson, first raised in 2022. The matter involved mediation and court proceedings before being settled by the Human Rights Commission in May without a determination of the allegations. Rioli has played several matches in the Northern Territory but has lived a concealed life since his premature retirement. Another all-time great in Gary Ablett Jnr was named Victoria's No.1 pick. All Stars coach Shane Crawford said he was looking for a 'bums on seats player' and found the perfect type in his former premiership teammate. 'We thought we might go with Kane Cornes when they said (Gary) Ablett Jnr so we could tag him,' Crawford told SEN. 'Our number one pick, we want to have fun, we've gone the ultimate 'No. 1 bums on seats player'. 'A player with one of the all-time great highlight reels in the history of the games and that is Cyril Rioli.' There was a report earlier this year Rioli pondered an AFL return under coach Alastair Clarkson when he accepted the role as North Melbourne coach. Rioli's return never eventuated but he will lace up the boots at Marvel Stadium for the charity match which will be played on Thursday, August 28.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
AFL great's exile set to end
AFL great Cyril Rioli will make his first public football comeback since his messy exit and prolonged absence from the game when he runs out in the reborn EJ Whitten Legends Game. After a six-year break the charity match is returning in August with a raft of big names locked in including Rioli and Gary Ablett junior. Rioli, a four-time premiership player and Norm Smith Medal winner, was unveiled as the All Stars' No.1 pick on Tuesday morning. The selection of the former excitement machine is a positive sign after he was involved in a lengthy battle with his former club over historical claims of racism including some levelled at his premiership coach, Alastair Clarkson, first raised in 2022. The matter involved mediation and court proceedings before being settled by the Human Rights Commission in May without a determination of the allegations. Rioli has played several matches in the Northern Territory but has lived a concealed life since his premature retirement. Another all-time great in Gary Ablett Jnr was named Victoria's No.1 pick. All Stars coach Shane Crawford said he was looking for a 'bums on seats player' and found the perfect type in his former premiership teammate. 'We thought we might go with Kane Cornes when they said (Gary) Ablett Jnr so we could tag him,' Crawford told SEN. 'Our number one pick, we want to have fun, we've gone the ultimate 'No. 1 bums on seats player'. 'A player with one of the all-time great highlight reels in the history of the games and that is Cyril Rioli.' There was a report earlier this year Rioli pondered an AFL return under coach Alastair Clarkson when he accepted the role as North Melbourne coach. Rioli's return never eventuated but he will lace up the boots at Marvel Stadium for the charity match which will be played on Thursday, August 28.
