Hawthorn have released a statement apologising to Cyril Rioli and wife Shannyn, after the former great’s extraordinary revelation that saw him retire from the AFL at just 28.
Speaking with The Age’s Caroline Wilson, Rioli revealed a series of racist incidents across his time at the Hawks reached the ‘final straw’ following an incident at Launceston Airport in 2018 with controversial club president Jeff Kennett.
According to Shannyn, Kennett criticised her designer ripped jeans, and when challenged, offered her loose change in order to sew them up.
“I felt belittled and humiliated,” she told The Age.
“The club kept saying I was over-reacting, but they were portraying me as the angry black woman.
“They said later I had wanted to go home to Darwin for a while. That’s not right.”
Rioli stood by his wife, who said she often feels guilty about the circumstances that saw the beloved champion depart Hawthorn after four premierships and the 2015 Norm Smith Medal.
He claims the incident is only one of many during his time at the club, saying there was ‘a lot of gaslighting’ in his final years and expressing his desire to not return while Kennett remains in charge.
“I’d be up for helping clubs if they wanted me … Richmond or West Coast … but I wouldn’t go back to Hawthorn after what’s gone on,” Rioli said.
“It’s the only club I wouldn’t put my hand up for right now.”
Just as concerning are other racists incidents at the club reported by Rioli, including an incident on an end-of-season trip in 2013 where a racial slur was used to describe the partner of an Indigenous player.
Cyril Rioli (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
“Bloody oath it was hard sometimes,” Rioli told The Age.
“Some things that happened to my teammates. The comments by coaches about the blackfellas all sitting together. The white fellas were always welcome to join us.
“I don’t think they [the club] really had any idea of what it was like for us, in reality.
“Seeing the way they treated Shan. It was the final straw. It opened my eyes seeing how distraught she was and defending her and seeing how they were to us.
“It just hurt so much and it hurt her. I just thought I don’t need to take that s—, so it was fight or flight and I said, ‘let’s get out of this s—storm’.”
Following the report, Hawthorn released a statement on Saturday afternoon apologising to the Riolis, and expressing their commitment to change.
“We are sorry that Cyril and Shannyn experienced these incidents during their time at the club,” the statement read.
“We are saddened these experiences have left them feeling the way they do.
“Combating racism and educating everyone both within our own walls and in the community is something we are constantly working on and believe we are getting better at. But there is always more work to be done.
“We are committed to reconciliation and ensuring our First Nations players are culturally safe and have a voice that is both listened to and acted upon.
“At Hawthorn, all of our staff and players deserve to be respected.
“Our doors will always be open to Cyril and Shannyn.”
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
O’Meara said club officials had spoken to the players on Saturday morning about the Rioli’s comments. “Our Indigenous players feel really culturally safe at the moment, so that’s all I can speak to,” O’Meara said.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
I doubt Caroline Wilson would have got the sign off to post an article on this sort of script. Controversial headlines are the priority that the papers want to be printing now.
dargerovitch
Roar Rookie
It's a pity if Chris Lewis was targeted because of his race. Not so much if it was due to his often dirty play.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
Why are they the best judge? As you say, if Kennett directed all criticism towards one racial group then that would indicate a racial motive. How the hell would Rioli and his partner know that? Something doesn't become racist just because of hurt feelings.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Eh? It seems you are lost! Or you are on an internet shift this morning for multiple campaigns - by Getup, Burn Loot Murder, [insert name] grievance industry or some other political / commercial con job, and you have muddled up your running sheets and default glib responses. :silly: :laughing:
Martin Robbins
Guest
Funny how the media can dig up ancient truths when it suits the narrative. Yet the release of documents showing pfizzer killed over 1200 people in the trials of their dodgy jabs get no air time at all , and they continue to promote the toxic clot shots .
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
Imagine if Clarkson joined Cyril at Port.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
What are you snorting there in the Gold Coast Mick? Very well aware of Wadeye. Been working in and visiting Indigenous communities all over Queensland, NT, and Kimberley for years, as well as working with cultures from all over the planet. And also had the pleasure of speaking with Cyril when visiting Tiwi. When you get your nose out of Jeffrey's but hole do a little bit of googling on colonisation, trans generational trauma, trauma informed care practices, and see if you can get out a bit more from tinsel town and into the real world.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Maybe, but she could have put him back in his box verbally too
Angela
Roar Rookie
Ah, yes. Maybe a good hard slap would have done it.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
“The comment Kennet(sic) made … was the final straw … it was not a one off.” Look Kevo – you remind me one of the great features of the Roar is how one can hear from people “in the know”, the custodians of “the true truth”. We would not otherwise know of Jeff Kennett with his embedded silencing culture, a systemic weaponised supremacist, armed with asymptomatic micro-aggressions, cloaked in unconscious whiteness, all ideological subversion and oldness – yeeeks! (I find that jumbling up all your stock attack pejoratives does not diminish their minimal impact and obviates the need to remember the correct order :silly: ). Learning how to spell the man's name would lend more authority to your assertions - just a tip for you, for free. I suspect “lived experience” is a tautology. It does sound intellectual though, I suppose, adds gravity and veracity. “perpetual realities” is a new addition to the grievance industry¹ default talking points. When I saw your “entrenched systemic brutal” I thought for a moment you were going to enlighten the city kids on the ungentle gang warfare between the Evil Warriors and the Judas Priest boys up in Wadeye. I don’t suppose you know about that – it’s unhelpful to your dogma. You will find "Wadeye" in an atlas. ¹ Cape York aborigine leader Noel Pearson
Ben
Guest
Ten years in and only 4,000 at GWS vs Gold Coast. Take out all the freebies and that's maybe 300 paying customers. AFL is unwanted and unneeded in this part of the world.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Which truth is a man to believe? Cyril's truth four years ago was comprehensive and unequivocal. The reaction of a supportive Hawthorn organisation was unmistakable, the admiration universal. July 2018, quoting Rioli as published 'Rioli has revealed the deeply personal reasons for his shock retirement from the game he loves. … quitting the AFL, despite two years remaining on a lucrative million-dollar contract. … the poor health of his father Cyril Senior - who suffered a heart attack in 2017 - was a major factor in his decision to … return home to the Northern Territory. 'When my dad's stuff happened, I truly probably lost that fire or that desire to compete or to play, and it's hard being away from home,' he told Seven News. ... 'With all these emotions and my injury and everything... it is the right time for me and my wife to go home.' 'The decision to retire from football is something that I have thought long and hard about over the past 12 months,' Rioli said in a statement. 'I've weighed everything up and I am confident the decision I've made is the right one for me and my family. I can walk away from the game having achieved everything I could have ever dreamed of and I'm forever grateful for the opportunities I have received. I'll always be a Hawthorn person …” The media McAvaney told 3AW: 'He told me he really believes it was the right time for him and that he's leaving in a good frame of mind.' Hawks teammates were called into club headquarters on their day off for Rioli to personally explain the shock announcement. 'Cyril said there was a lot of emotion in the room and found it extremely difficult but at the same time, felt a lot of warmth and love,' McAvaney said. 'Jarryd Roughhead came over during our interview to give him a big hug.' The Club … immediately called his teammates to attend on their day off … … coach Alastair Clarkson hailed Rioli as one of the most influential players the code has ever seen. 'Cyril has been an outstanding servant of this football club for a long period of time and there have been very few players that have brought as much excitement to the game,' Clarkson said. The players Rioli's former teammates and opponents also paid tribute. 'Thank you brother for being a champion role model and idol to a lot of us. Congrats on a stellar career, the game won't be the same without some Cyril magic,' West Coast Eagles star Nic Naitanui tweeted. … Shane Crawford “Cyril Rioli's retirement feels like a death. A sad day for Hawthorn and AFL football lovers” Jarryd Roughhead came over ... to give him a big hug. $$$ Rioli hated the environment at Hawthorn so much that he stayed for a decade, while his contract grew from $135,000 pa to $750,000 pa – 20% per year for ten years! He had two years to run when he pulled the pin.
Macca
Roar Rookie
But that is all her choosing a reaction, she gave him the power because she didn’t realise she was the one who had it. She was the spouse of one of the most beloved and important multi premiership players in the club and he was the bloke who basically destroyed the the state liberal party in Victoria. She was Maximus he was Commodus.
Martin Robbins
Guest
Get a life ya pathetic dweeb.
Angela
Roar Rookie
No reason she couldn’t have taken the change and said “great, I’ll sew up your mouth while I am at it” But, understandably, she didn't feel able to do this. Big age difference, an aura of looming Kennett power, possibly shock that someone would feel it's okay to make comments like that and expect the recipient to see the joke, ha-ha. There's a difference between parents/grandparents commenting on their children's clothes (even then many kids would justifiably get annoyed) and having to put up with the ill manners of a distant aquaintance who thinks he's being funny.
JudgeMental
Roar Rookie
Feel better?
XI
Roar Guru
**insert Bender meme about laughing even harder** If you honestly think that the club would have backed one player over the president you are delusional. Plus it's clear that Hawthorn hadn't acted on these issues before since a player had made racists comments and nothing happened. Clearly they valued shutting up and not rocking the boat instead of confronting and dealing with these issues.
Ben
Guest
Swans crowds are all snooty white office hipsters and wealthy inner city types (inclusive of ex vic fumblers and yawnion defectors). You never see groups of Islanders or migrants at a Swans game like the Canterbury Bulldogs. GWS have no fans, not a single person west of the Anzac Bridge supports this rubbish Victorian game.
Martin Robbins
Guest
And you , proving once again that a percentage of the public are easily lead brain dead sheep .