Cyril Rioli Kangaroos text message bombshell before Hawthorn scandal
Alastair Clarkson and Cyril Rioli discussed the possibility of the legendary forward making an AFL playing comeback just before the Hawthorn racism saga erupted, according to CODE Sports.
A stunning story was published on Friday by Herald Sun chief football writer and Super Saturday LIVE panellist Jay Clark, who reported Clarkson and Rioli spoke both on the phone and via text message in August and September 2022, where the idea of the triple All-Australian recommencing his AFL career under Clarkson's new club was floated.
Rioli, who was coached by Clarkson in the four Hawks flags, shocked the footy world midway through the 2018 season when he announced his retirement just before his 29th birthday.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
But just over four years later – after Clarkson had left Hawthorn and was on the verge of coaching his second club – the pair weighed up the possibility of the superstar small forward playing under Clarkson at another team.
In the alleged text messages, published by CODE Sports, sent across August and September 2022, Clarkson asked Rioli how he was and if he was 'still keen' on a comeback. In Rioli's reply, he said he was 'interested and keen'.
Clarkson, according to the report, then sent another message to Rioli that read: 'Still waiting for your preference. Orange and charcoal or blue and white?' The colours were a reference to the Giants and Kangaroos, who were two of the AFL clubs interested in hiring Clarkson as their next coach at the time. The Roos eventually signed him in August 2022 on a five-year deal.
Rioli, in the following weeks, conceded to Clarkson he'd need more time to build his fitness if he wanted to play in the AFL again, flagging the prospect of taking on an off-field role at the Kangaroos instead.
A month later in AFL Grand Final week of 2022, allegations from a report into the historical treatment of First Nations players at Hawthorn – including shock claims against Clarkson and other senior Hawks figures – was published by the ABC. It was the start of a two-year legal battle, which led to Clarkson and Lions coach Chris Fagan – the Hawks' former football boss – being temporarily stood down by their new clubs.
Communication between Rioli and Clarkson petered out after the allegations became public.
Despite Clarkson's attempts to check in on Rioli, CODE Sports reported the duo haven't spoken since.
The saga ended in late 2024 after the ex-Hawks players and their family members took a statement of claim to Federal Court before a settlement was reached and the Hawks released a statement apologising to the players, including Rioli.
The allegations were never confirmed to be true or false.
The accused former Hawthorn staffers, including Clarkson, strongly denied the allegations and remain significantly affected by the fallout.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
14 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Champion mare Winx to visit Darley sire Too Darn Hot in spring breeding season
Mighty mare Winx will visit Darley's champion sire Too Darn Hot in the coming spring breeding season. Winx 's ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke made the much-anticipated announcement on Monday night, ending weeks of speculation about their legendary mare's next mating. 'We are thrilled to announce Too Darn Hot as the stallion of choice for Winx this season,'' said Peter Tighe on behalf of Winx's owners. 'His pedigree, performance and the early success of his progeny align with our long-term vision for Winx's breeding legacy. 'We believe this pairing has the potential to produce something very special.'' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Hall of Fame champion Winx, winner of 37 of her 43 starts including her final 33 races in succession highlighted by a world record 25 Group 1 winners, has produced two foals to date – a filly by Pierro that is now a two-year-old named Quinceanera and a colt by Snitzel that will be a yearling next season. Too Darn Hot, a dual hemisphere shuttle stallion, is already the sire of four-time Group 1 winner Broadsiding and multiple stakes winners in his first two Australian crops to race. Winx's ownership group also noted in their press release that Too Darn Hot, a multiple Group 1-winning son of the great Dubawi, has 'quickly established himself as one of Europe's most exciting young stallions.'' 'His progeny has demonstrated early precocity, exceptional athleticism and outstanding temperament – qualities that strongly complement Winx's remarkable racing attributes and pedigree,'' the owners wrote. 🇦🇰 He rewrote the record books. Now he’s back to do it again. #TooDarnHot returns to Kelvinside, NSW in 2025. Read more: — Darley in Australia (@DarleyAus) April 8, 2025 Too Darn Hot's service fee of $275,000 this spring breeding season reflects the demand for the stallion who stands at Darley Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley. Quinceanera, the first foal out of all-time great Winx, created headlines around the racing world when Debbie Kepitis, a part-owner of Winx, went to $10 million – a world record for a yearling filly – to buy back the filly at the Inglis Easter Sale last year. Trainer Chris Waller has Quinceanera in light work at his Rosehill stables but the trainer said the two-year-old would not be rushed to the races over the winter months. 'She's progressing well but she won't be racing as a two-year-old,'' Waller said last week. 'It's unlikely she will even get to a barrier trial this season. Maybe by early August she could get to a trial.'' Tighe said no decision has been made whether Winx's colt by Snitzel will be sold as a yearling next season.
News.com.au
18 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Demons forward learns fate over ‘worst incident seen on a football field'
Melbourne's Aidan Johnson has been hit with a two-match suspension by the AFL's Match Review Officer. The Dees forward landed himself in hot water on Sunday afternoon when he elected to bump St Kilda's Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. In the second quarter, the first-year Demon collected Wanganeen-Milera in a collision that left the Saints rebounder in need of medical attention. Despite the high hit, the Saints star returned to finish out the contest but it mattered little to the MRO. The hit was graded as careless conduct, high impact and high contact, resulting in the two-game suspension. Channel 7's Kate McCarthy hit out at Johnson, who is now facing his second suspension of the season. 'Having a look at it here, this is the exact act that needs to be stamped out of the game,' McCarthy said. 'We've seen a lot of contentious 50/50s when a player has been concussed, Paul Curtis is the one that comes to mind that gets three weeks for an act. 'That for me is one of the worst incidents on a football field this year. Yes Wanganeen-Milera hasn't been concussed, but he's elected to leave the ground to bump a player that is in a very vulnerable position. 'I think they need to stamp that out from the game and come down hard.' St Kilda coach Ross Lyon however felt different when speaking after the contest, saying he had concerns for the path in which the game is heading down. 'I like the physicality in the game,' Lyon said. 'I'm concerned where the game is heading. I understand the head is sacrosanct and all that, but there was one where Hunter Clark went down to the ball and won it. 'I'm glad Alex Pearce got off. I'll leave it to (the MRO). You just hope every team gets a fair shake. Like, when you need to be fair, hopefully it's fair. 'I've got no comment. I think the game is good order. Sometimes incidents happen. Enough controversy finds me, right?' Johnson could now miss games against Collingwood in Round 13 and Port Adelaide in Round 15 if he's unable to have the suspension overturned at the AFL Tribunal.
News.com.au
20 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Prisoner on the run after breaking out of Qld correctional facility in a tractor
A prisoner is on the run after a shock tractor escape from a correctional facility in Far North Queensland on Sunday morning. Michael Graeme Rennie, 43, is serving a six-year, three-month sentence for serious assault, motor vehicle offences, theft and burglary, and drugs and weapons offences, at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre in Atherton. He escaped while working on the prison farm. Rennie was last seen driving a red Massey tractor with an attached bucket. Queensland Police Detective Inspector Jason Chetham told a press conference that it was understood Rennie escaped the facility using the tractor. '(Rennie) was last seen at about 10.20am yesterday (Sunday) morning and discovered missing in a headcount just before midday yesterday afternoon,' Inspector Chetham said on Monday. 'We believe he was conducting duties at the correctional centre using a red Massey tractor and that tractor is also unaccounted for, so we believe he may well have left the facility with that tractor.' The headcount was conducted at 11.55am, about an hour and a half after Rennie was last seen on the facility. Inspector Chetham has asked the public to contact the police if they have any information on his whereabouts. 'We don't have any specific concerns on what he might do in the community, not targeting anyone, but we're certainly asked people not to approach him and call us immediately if they have any information,' he said. 'He's from Far North Queensland, so he doesn't have to get far to see the family. so that's an angle we're running here. 'The Tablelands is an agricultural centre, so tractors on the road are something, I don't think, will turn a lot of heads, but we're keen to find it anyway'. The Lotus Glen Correctional Centre offers programs in the fields of both farming and industry to equip inmates with skills in preparation for their release. Police have warned the public to not approach Rennie if seen and to immediately contact authorities. Rennie is described having fair hair and complexion with blue eyes, with a light build standing at 174cm and weighing 56kg. He also has several body markings, including a gun tattoo on his left shoulder, a dragon and skull on his right shoulder, a screamer on his top shoulder blade, a clown with a gun on his left ribs, the letters 'SMP', a gargoyle, a demon holding a skull with horn and three names on his left arm, multiple dog bites and scars on his left arm, and on his right arm, a Celtic design, skull clown, full sleeve on his forearm and knuckle dusters. The lower half of his body includes a knee to ankle brick wall, panther, anarchy sign, skull, four headstones, clown face and eight ball on his left leg, a Celtic sleeve on his outside right calf, a star on his right foot, and a joker with crown on the side of his right knee. Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink through the online suspicious activity form, which operates 24 hours per day or call 131 444.
