Hawthorn have prolonged an open invitation to four-time premiership star Cyril Rioli to attend the Hawks’ AFL game in Darwin.
Rioli, a revered determine within the membership’s historical past, reduce ties with Hawthorn after retiring abruptly, aged simply 28, in 2018.
The 2015 Norm Smith medallist and his spouse Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli final month spoke out towards the Hawks, saying race-related incidents contributed to his choice to name it quits from the AFL prematurely.
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Rioli has been residing within the Northern Territory since 2018 and is disconnected with a big cohort of Hawthorn’s golden period.
The Hawks will tackle Gold Coast at Darwin’s TIO Stadium on Could 28.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has made contact with the Hawks nice.
Rioli and his spouse made it clear they won’t return to Hawthorn whereas Kennett stays in cost.
“I have been in touch with Cyril a couple of times, we’re moving in the right direction,” Kennett mentioned on Thursday on the launch of Hawthorn’s emergency companies match.
“Whether he will come to that game or not, it will be up to him at the time.
“Suffice to say, it will likely be a beautiful game and Darwin is a superb metropolis.
“He has wished the club and me well on two occasions, whether that leads to him coming in a couple of weeks, I don’t know.”
After Rioli went public along with his criticism of Hawthorn, the membership issued a public apology.
“We are sorry that Cyril and Shannyn experienced these incidents during their time at the club,” the assertion in April learn.
“We are saddened these experiences have left them feeling the way they do.
“Combating racism and educating everybody each inside our personal partitions and in the neighborhood is one thing we’re continuously engaged on and consider we’re getting higher at.”
Rioli performed 189 video games for Hawthorn in a glittering profession that started in 2008, together with three All-Australian alternatives.
