Hawthorn won't rush the return of Cyril Rioli just because the home and away season is fast approaching, Hawks skipper Jarryd Roughead says.
Rioli has not played since round eight last season after injuring his posterior cruciate ligament, while he had a disrupted pre-season, spending extended time in the Northern Territory with his family after his father suffered a heart attack late last year.
Rioli's strong training form over recent weeks has prompted speculation the 28-year-old could step straight back into Hawthorn's team for its season opener against Collingwood next Saturday night.
But Roughead called for some perspective at Captains Day on Thursday.
"I love how you guys think it's all about Round 1. Obviously you would love him out there, but if Cyril gets there for Round 1 and injures himself then we'd be pulling our hair out," Roughead said.
"If he's not right until Round 3, 4 or 5 and we get him for the next 20 (rounds), then I know what I'd be wanting and I know what the rest of the Hawthorn family would want as well.
"You look at how he's come back (from his time in the Northern Territory) and we're all pretty happy with that.
"But, again, he's still got a fair bit to do to get himself right and (back) amongst the rest of the group (so he can) understand how we're going to go about things."
