When you think of Cyril Rioli, a few things come to mind: delicious, Bruce Mcavaney, and premierships.
The boy from the Tiwi Islands has dazzled the AFL community ever since his debut in 2008, which culminated with a premiership medal and a runner-up finish in the Rising Star award.
Rioli’s forward pressure, silky skills, and unbelievable goal sense was an important piece of Hawthorn’s premiership puzzle.
Over the following years, despite battling injuries and the occasional lapse in form, Rioli has compiled a series of achievements that place him in the top echelon of the modern game.
Rioli is a two-time All-Australian, a runner-up in the Hawks’ best and fairest, and, most importantly, a four-time premiership player, and a Norm Smith Medallist.
While his talent and CV are undeniable, there have been quiet murmurs about ‘Junior’ for years.
Does he get enough of the ball? Does he influence the game for long enough? Does Rioli go ‘missing’ too often?
Rioli, in 2015, arguably had a career-best year. An average of 15.3 disposals and almost two goals a game combined with a number two ranking in goal assists to paint a pretty picture.
Okay, okay. I hear you. Yes, Eddie Betts and Chad Wingard both averaged more goals a game. But, Rioli’s role isn’t simply about kicking goals.
The Hawthorn gameplan dictates sharing the spoils, like Buddy in 2013. Alastair Clarkson, in an effort to be more dangerous on game day, has encouraged his midfielders to pick the best option, and not be one-dimensional.
In a world where goals, disposals, and contested possessions are as crucial to football as the air in our lungs, Rioli thrives on the ugly brother of goal-kicking – goal assists.
What statistics don’t portray are the intangibles of Rioli’s all-round game. The knock ons, the harassment of the opposition, many of whom pack their dacks if Rioli is within a paddock of them. It all adds to the enigmatic nature of ‘Junior Boy’.
Rioli’s copious injuries have blunted his influence in the AFL. His hamstrings have caused him constant issues, as have much other soft tissue and ligament niggles.
Imagine, for a second, Rioli completely injury free and playing midfield full-time, he would be the next generation’s Gary Ablett Jr. That superb sidestep, the silky skills, the staggering speed, for four full quarters, run and gun. I can hear Mcavaney salivating even now.
The sad fact is that Rioli simply doesn’t influence enough games to ever be conceived in the same galaxy and stratosphere of generational players like Ablett, Chris Judd, Steve Johnson and Scott Pendlebury.
Thirty-six career Brownlow votes speak of a player who cannot impact games consistently. Judd polled 30 votes in a single year. A career high of seven Brownlow votes speaks volumes of Rioli as a player. Incredible in short bursts, yes. Incredible over four quarters, rarely.
Rioli has all the talent in the world, and is good enough to do the miraculous often, and easily. Football to Rioli is simple and a joy to watch. He truly is poetry in motion with a football tucked under his arm, weaving one way then another, the AFL’s Lionel Messi.
To become a superstar, Rioli has to move into the midfield and influence games consistently. His talent is truly untapped. While right now he may be overrated in the eyes of many, increased midfield time could result in Rioli leaving a greater footprint on the game.
Eh
Guest
Yeah, Stevie J is clearly better, if he's not in the game he gets involved by sniping people.
Freo As
Guest
Hahahaha. Irony much.
Harry Condon
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate! Appreciate it. Yeah, Cyril is a gun.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
Geez this is well written, Cyril is a superstar for sure though.
George
Roar Rookie
He may be the best who ever played his role ... but he is absolutely, one hundred percent, still overrated.
Jason Crawford
Roar Rookie
If you have watched Rioli closley enough then you would know he is far from over-rated, that what you see on the field is not soley attributed to the side that he is in. For if he were in a side with far less talent you would see alot more of him. He is an apsolute superstar. Why? Because you do not see to many players in the AFL that are capable of doing what he can. So much weight is put on the quantity of possessions he gets, when in all reality that is what is over-rated. A superstar these days is defined soley by the quantity of possessions they get, yet the question is rarely asked about the impact those possessions have. Rioli has such an impact on the ground that his 15 possessions often are said to be as good as 30, and they are. Because his 15 possessions can be match defining and often they are. The things he does with the ball in hand is apsolutely incredible to watch. Then the other aspect is what he does, the impact that he has when he does not have possession of the ball. The pressure he applies, all the tap ons etc. If everything he did went on the stat sheets you would struggle to find another player that matches what he does. I always encourage people when they attend a Hawthorn game to spend a period of time watching him when he is not in possession, watch where he goes, the space he creates, the pressure he applies. Watch every opposition player in his vicinity, and the pressure they feel when he is around them. Then you will get a true indication of everything he does, and the value he has, and why so many consider him to be an apsolute superstar. Because with Rioli it is extremely shallow to simply talk about the lack of possessions he gets, and not acknowledge not only the impact he has with those possessions, but what he does with the ball not in hand.
Harry Condon
Roar Rookie
G'day Daniel, Bowden was a 2 time best and fairest winner, as well as a 2 time All Australian. Not a bad player, one might say. Bowden also averaged 22 disposals a game, not 25-30. Daniel, 36 career brownlow votes, over 8 years, really does tell you how many 'match winning' perfomances Rioli has had, even accounting for finals. Brownlow medal votes aren't gained by possessions, but by impact on the game. As I said in the article, Judd polled over 200 votes, with 2 30 vote years.All of the players mentioned have polled many, many more votes than Rioli in the Charlie. In regards to your last comment, yes, that is true. But how often does that happen? Even in a lacklustre year for Pendles, he still managed to poll over double Rioli's tally. While Cyril CAN have as much impact with 15 possessions as Pendlebury with 30, the fact is that doesn't happen very often. Pendlebury is one of the most consistent players the game has seen; can the same be said for Rioli? Furthermore, in the article I state that it isn't just disposals which makes Rioli a good player. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment mate.
Daniel
Guest
Number of disposals (per player) is not the crucial stat you young fellas think it is. A guy called Joel Bowden for Richmond used to average 25-30 disposals of half back. Whats his footprint? probably on a beach and thats it! Cryril's footprint has been stamped in 5 Grand finals, 4 Premierships, a Norm Smith Medal and endless amounts of match winning performances. He's efficient! But you really lost the plot with this comment: "The sad fact is that Rioli simply doesn’t influence enough games to ever be conceived in the same galaxy and stratosphere of generational players like Ablett, Chris Judd, Steve Johnson and Scott Pendlebury." You're only thinking of posession count kid. Rioli can have as much impact as a 30 possession Pendlebury game, with only 15.
paulywalnuts
Guest
DeanM, avoid eye contact and back slowly toward the door...
DeanM
Guest
Someone's pood their nappy
DeanM
Guest
Nice rant, I would like to know how you come to the conclusion that any of the Hawks fans on this site had anything to do with the booing that's made you spit the dummy?? Rioli is his last name and myself and many others love his contribution to the game along with many other indigenous players.
Abg
Guest
And, will the player be booed into oblivion in a grand final - will he Hawks fans? If opposition supporters - say oh 30000 of the 40000 odd present boo in unison, full throated, red necks swelling at every sniff and touch and don't ease up until you have disrespected a so called champion of the game beyond recognition - then you can debate on social media why a player considered a champion who should be celebrated could possibly be treated with disdain. Oh, just a bit of fun though hey, all in the spirit of the game - puts him off his game right. Promise not to diss Cyril when he does his retirement lap but only if Ed, Dermie and Sam tell us not to...
Frank R
Roar Rookie
And I saw Jetta have about 5 touches in the 2014 GF. Jetta has 1 GF medallion and Rioli has 4.
Frank R
Roar Rookie
I amazed Bolton has called you to offer you an assistant coaches role!
Frank R
Roar Rookie
Geelong were 1 of the donkeys but just couldn't make it into the front of the field.
Abg
Guest
To quote fans who bagged a true superstar - flog, don't like the way he plays, deserves to be booed just for say having a bit of raw talent and boo em cause he doesn't play for my team, booed into retirement and howled down by all fans in every round, every week, with home games no exception. If he shows even a little bit of celebration after a goal condemn the player to eternal damnation. Of course it has nothing to do with race, just a spiteful tirade and muck sticking exercise by small minded fans. Sorry Hawks fans and adoring AFL loving Cyril puppets - you set the tone and showed the disrespect and you stick by it so you can't expect anything better in return. Cyril who?
Max
Guest
Must have.
DeanM
Guest
He must have just watched the halftime show. Cyril went missing for around 20 minutes in between the second and third quarters.
Max
Guest
Poor Dylan didn't take the time to watch the full match. To completely ruin your point, i sat down and matched the Cyril highlights reel of the Granny. 1st Quarter 18 Minute mark - Goal 12th Minute - Mark and Goal 9 Minute Mark - Mark and Behind 5 Minute Mark - Great tackle on Brad Sheppard 1 Minute Mark - Cyril marks and passes to Brad Hill who goals. 2nd Quarter 15 Minute Mark - Cyril handballs to Gunston who snaps truly. 13 Minute Mark - Flies for a mark before running down Hutchins. Tackle results in goal. 3rd Quarter 17 Minute Mark - Cuts through two eagles defenders and then delivers to Schoenmakers. 11 Minute Mark - Outmarks Schoefield 1 on 1 and sets up Schoenmakers goal. 7 Minute Mark - Intercepts McGoverns handpass and then quickly flicks handball off to Bruest. Results in Gunston goal. 4th Quarter 18 Minute Mark - Marks and passes to Roughead in the goalsquare who kicks truly. 17 Minute Mark - Handballs to Isaac Smith in congestion. Smith kicks the goal. 4 Minute Mark - Cyril climbs above two to take a wonderful high mark. 20 minutes later - Cyril is awarded the Norm Smith Medal. Sure, during the end of the second quarter Cyril dropped off, but if you watched the game closely, Hawthorn as a team began to tire. Not just Cyril. Clearly Cyril had a very good allround game. And through these examples did not go 'missing for nearly an entire half of the GF' So next time Dylan, actually watch the game. It might help when you then go ahead a comment on these articles. In defence of Dylan, i've noticed that many of my friends and people on this website appear to have not watched the game and then have gone ahead and made silly statements.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Hawthorn Supporters......