Footy great Cyril Rioli spotted for the first time at a footy match since high-profile legal case

Footy great Cyril Rioli had chosen not to return to his former club, Hawthorn, for their centenary celebrations last week.

But on Thursday, he was spotted for the first time back at a footy match watching on as his old club Hawthorn were beaten 16.8 [104] – 15.6 [96] by Gold Coast in what was the opening game of this weekend’s Sir Doug Nicholls round at the TIO Stadium in Darwin

The footy great cut a big smile and stood up to applaud Gold Coast Star Bailey Humphrey who booted a stunning goal from just off the 50m arc, as Damien Hardwick’s rampant side got off to a fast start booting five majors on the bounce in the opening quarter.

‘He had a fair smile on his face when Gold Coast kicked that goal,’ his former team-mate Luke Hodge said, as Channel 7’s cameras panned around to Rioli in the crowd.

‘Yeah, he did!’ Brian Taylor added, before adding: ‘Whose he barracking for?!’

Hodge, who had recently admitted he was gutted that Rioli had distanced himself from the Hawks during their centenary celebrations, added: ‘It’s great to see him back at the football, though. Very relaxed.’

After the match, Rioli (left) was seen catching up with ex-team-mate Luke Hodge (right) after Hodge claimed he had been unable to get hold of the former Hawthorn star in recent months

Hamish McLachlan, also on commentary duties, added: ‘Isn’t it nice to see him back? Absolutely.’

At the end of the match Hodge was seen heading over to the stands where Rioli was sitting and was spotted having a catch-up with the Hawthorn great, having previously admitted he and other players had been unable to get in touch with Rioli in recent months. 

Speaking last week on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters, Hodge, who played with Rioli at Hawthorn, opened up on his former team-mate’s fractured relationship with the club.

The Hawks’ celebrations were soured by the absence of Rioli, who had, last year, been the lead plaintiff in a claim against the club after he and several other indigenous players and their families had alleged that they had been subjected to a racist culture at the footy club.

‘We understand that Hawthorn and Cyril haven’t come to the stage where I guess Cyril feels comfortable coming back into the football club just yet,’ he told the programme.

‘You can only [hope], as they say, time heals all wounds, but we’re just hoping that it gets to that stage with Cyril.’

He added: ‘I haven’t been able to speak to Cyril,’ he said.

‘I think there’s been a lot of guys… I’ve reached out. I went to Darwin in 2021/22 for filming, tried to call him, got his old number, then got his new number from Hilly [Bradley Hill], tried to call… didn’t get anything back from him.’

Rioli stood up to applaud Gold Coast Suns star Bailey Humphrey who booted a stunning goal from just off the 50m arc

It came after Rioli was the lead plaintiff in a legal claim against the Hawthorn Football Club, where he alleged he and other indigenous players and family members were subjected to a culture of racism during their time at the Hawks

Luke Hodge (left) said that he was saddened that his former team-mate Rioli (centre) did not attend last week’s centenary celebrations 

Hodge said he was saddened by Rioli’s decision not to return for the anniversary celebrations, adding: ‘When you go through so much with a lot of guys, you want to see all their faces.’

Rioli, alongside his wife, Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis lodged a claim of unlawful discrimination in the Federal Court.

However, the claimants and Hawthorn would release a joint statement that was published on the club’s website that they had resolved the dispute with the plaintiffs receiving an undisclosed sum of money.

Hawthorn apologised to the players and their families for any ‘hurt and distress’ experienced during their time at the footy club.

Speaking on his relationship with Rioli, Hodge said: ‘We left on really good terms.

‘I’ve got messages from Cyril from when his old man was crook, saying: “Family is before football. Go and spend time with your family”.

‘And then when he retired, he sent me a message saying: “Thanks for all the development and all the help”.

‘So I’ve had no issues with Cyril ever, but when he sort of ran into this with Hawthorn, it’s sort of like he’s parted ways with everyone there.

‘There’s very few of the mentors that he spent a lot of time with in that forward line who haven’t been able to connect with him either.’

Cyril’s cousin, Daniel Rioli, is currently playing for the Suns, joining up with the Gold Coast outfit in 2024.

The footy star enjoyed a solid outing at the TIO Stadium, amassing five tackles, four marks and 21 disposals.