Cyril Rioli announces immediate retirement from AFL

Andrew Mcleod - and by some...

Fair enough, couple of things though. I have no idea why you are talking about Mark Robinson to me. I am not him. I am not responsible for his remarks, or remarks made in the media in general. I try to confine my remarks to what you have said in your words, on this site. If I happen to agree with someone in the media it's not because I have been hoodwinked by comments I haven't even heard about, it's because my opinion happens to match theirs. Hopefully that clarifies a few things for you. You have your opinions on Rioli and I have mine. I think he set the benchmark for a long time to come about the sort of pressure and intensity that a small forward requires both in defence - out of the names you mention the only one giving me pause is Betts, who is undoubtedly a more dangerous goalkicker but Rioli is a superior all-round player, if I was assembling a team to win games of footy irrelevant of style points I'd go Cyril every time.

I've held this opinion for a long time. We'll have to agree to disagree. I'm not saying Rioli had a bad day out. He was probably one of Hawthorn's top 5 players, but clearly Mitchell and Hodge were better. An 18 possession, 2 goal effort was not best on ground in my eyes. I'm watching AFL 360 last night and the reaction to Rioli was almost hysterical. Robbo was talking about Rioli's highlight reel not just being the best in Australian sport but world sport. He was talking about Rioli in the same breath as Ablett, Judd, etc. Just stop it. It devalues the game and devalues individual achievements when people make exaggerated declarations. As long as when Eddie Betts retires the media and public give him as big if not bigger send off because his highlight reel is even better than Rioli's. As far as small forwards go, I'd take a younger Betts, Walters, younger LeCras over Rioli any day. As far as recently retired I'd take Milne over Rioli. It would even be a toss up between Breust and Rioli.

Anon, I don't dismiss all of your work (very occasionally you're on the money) but this exchange is either misinformed provocation or dead set tr*lling.

With good reason, don't you think? I would have thought having the name Rioli would be a real burden, rather than an asset, because of the weight of expectations it places on a young player, but he has more than exceeded them and added a hell of a lot of lustre to the name Rioli. Simplistic is assuming a player can succeed simply because he has a certain name. Look at James Aish and Jack Silvagni. Nathan Ablett? That's your opinion on the Norm Smith, my view it was given to the player who did the most to influence the outcome of the match and to that end, Rioli's contribution in the early stages of the game when it was there to be won was pivotal, but he kept up the effort and commitment throughout the rest of the game when it was clear the Eagles had given up. He didn't. Mitchell had a normal Sam mitchell game by his standards. Most of those possessions should come with an asterix because West Coast took their ball and went home by about the ten minute mark of the 2nd quarter, it was a truly pathetic display by a team some people claim to be an outfit we all should admire, and the biggest club in the country.

Anon, any midfielder can get 34 possession on a given day. It's how those possessions impact the game that matters. Cyril could've kicked more goals in his finals matches, but he was too busy doing other things up the ground that allowed teammates to get into the game and kick goals themselves.

Geez you're an ordinary piece of work sometimes Anon.

I'm still totally in denial.

Nah.Willie will keep the Rioli name flying.

Prodigious talent. I feel privileged to have watched his magic - and I’m not a Hawks upporter. I wish Cyril all the best and thank him for his contribution to our great game.

SSSSSpecial. Great player indeed.

Oops. Soz. for the spoiler guys. Mea culpa.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/rugby-at-crisis-point-as-afl-junior-players-skyrocket-across-sydney/news-story/2ddbc169ca72efbdbae396e5399b18be Strangely enough this article written a couple of weeks ago generally correlates with one i wrote back in Dec in regards to junior teams although they have used % rather than actual team numbers. https://www.theroar.com.au/2017/12/27/afl-sydney-finally-seeing-sustained-growth/ Sydney is a much better option, everyone knows it.

Rioli has always got a lot of attention and disproportionate adulation because of his last name. The Norm Smith in 2015 was to create a fairytale, feel good story of another Rioli winning it. But in 2015, no question that Mitchell with 34 possessions, 6 clearances, DE of 82% had much more impact on the game than Rioli with 18 possessions, 2 tackles and 2 goals. Mitchell set up several goals with precise disposals out of clearances. Rioli had a decent game, but nothing like Mitchell's. Luckily for me I can think for myself and am not easily hoodwinked by anyone wearing the tag "expert", so I'll stick with my assertion that Mitchell clearly had a better game than Rioli. Rioli winning it was the better story though, and that's why they looked for any reason to give the Norm Smith to him.

Aker was one I missed above when comparing Cyril to Carman, D Jarman, Ablett Snr and co. The game needs space for these freaks to showcase their talents which is why we cant let the coaches clog up our game.

Dear Cyril, Thanks for letting us enjoy to talents, even when you were playing against us, it was always great to watch and admire. I wish only the best for you and your family, The Fat Toad

Yeah but the game was over after 1 and a half quarters, so I had no issue with Rioli winning it. Any stats recorded after the 10 min mark of the 2nd quarter might as well be null and void. Cyril was easily the best player on ground when the game was actually in the balance. I'll go with the judges of Normie, who gave Cyril 13 out of 15 votes, Sam Mitchell 9 out of 15 - as opposed to an anonymous internet critic. Best for Hawks 2013: Lake, Gunston, Lewis, Rioli, Hodge, Birchall Best for Hawks 2014: Hodge, Lewis, Mitchell, Roughead, Hill, Lake, Langford, Burgoyne Best for Hawks 2015: Rioli, Mitchell, Smith, Hodge, Gunston, Burgoyne, Frawley I don't usually agree with Andy but he's dead right - Rioli was part of a great team that won 3 flags in a row chiefly on the strength of their teamwork and the aura of invincibility they projected - having a red hot threat like Rioli on the ground played a huge role in why they were able to strangle their opposition so badly. You stick to your stats, I'll remember all those pressured kicks out of defence and poor judgment calls off halfback because Rioli was prowling around the forward flanks ready to pounce on anyone who took even half a second too long. At the end of the day, Rioli will be remember as a 4 time flag winner and one of the greatest indigenous players of all time - Betts and Walters will be trivia questions in 20 years and that's about it

As a first year player his pressure and ability to win clutch moments was pivotal in the 2008 GF.

Wow. I am feeling a tear in my eye! I loved the way he played the game. Inspirational player without peer. He gave the Hawks the Buzz when they most needed it.

That's a simplistic way of looking at things. Hawthorn's flags are more about the contribution of guys like Hodge and Mitchell than Rioli. 22 goals from 19 finals as a small forward is a fact. Might have had a decent 2015 GF, but 22 goals from 19 finals means you went missing in many finals (most finals). In the 2015 GF adjudicated to be best on ground with a 18 possession, 2 tackle, 2 goal performance. Hodge had 30 possession, 4 clearances, 1 goal. Mitchell had 34 possessions, 6 clearances, disposal efficiency of 82%. I'll let you judge which player was best on ground. I know which one of those three CLEARLY wasn't best on ground.