CYRIL Rioli is well and truly in the mix for selection in Saturday’s Grand Final after impressing Hawthorn selectors in Sunday’s VFL Grand Final.
While Rioli, who wore number 71 for Box Hill, managed a modest 10 disposals and three tackles, the Hawks were happy with his performance.
The star Hawk played three quarter before being rested in the final term.
GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said the star Hawk is well and truly in the mix to play his first game since Round 15 in the Grand Final against the Swans.
“It’s just one of the hard decisions the selectors have to make this week is whether to include him,” Fagan told hawthornfc.com.au
“He got through the game well. He was a little bit slow to begin with in the first half, I think it just took him a little while to get some confidence.
“We were really pleased with how he went, he really influenced the game in the third quarter.
“We felt at that point (three-quarter time) he’d done a sufficient amount to warrant selection for this week.”
In more good news for the Hawks, Jordan Lewis is almost certain to play in Saturday’s decider despite being subbed out just before three-quarter time in the Preliminary Final win over Port Adelaide.
Lewis received a knock to his leg in the opening minutes of the term and tried manfully to play on but his hindered by the injury.
Fagan said though the Hawks vice-captain and All Australian is expected to play.
“That corkie was recovered by Sunday morning and he’s progressed really well in the early stages of this week,” he said.
“We expect he’ll train on Thursday and take his place in the Grand Final.”
Fagan also said there are no injury concerns around Brad Sewell and Ben McEvoy who were pulled out late from Box Hill’s VFL Grand Final team.
He said the decision was made the rest the duo to ensure the Hawks had the duo available for selection for Saturday’s Grand Final.
