HE HAS played four matches since missing nine weeks with a hamstring injury, and Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli says he’s now back in form.
Rioli had his best game since Round 5 in last Friday night’s 56-point win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium.
Despite gathering just 14 disposals, Rioli’s impact was much more profound than the stats sheet suggested.
He had five tackles, but the pressure and line-breaking ability he brought to the Hawthorn side as a midfielder and dangerous small forward transcended the stats sheet.
Rioli was integral to the win, and his goal from 55m in the second term - the first of four unanswered Hawks goals was the spark his team needed to build the win just before half time.
The 24 year old says he’s feeling fresh and slowly regaining the match conditioning he’ll need to have a real impact for his team heading into finals.
“My mind is fresh, I just want to get out there and get my body match conditioned and used to the game play,” he told hawthornfc.com.au
“It has been a bit hard but I’m a few games in and it’s getting better, I’m starting to back myself again, but I need to do that more often.
“I did it at the start of the season, but I’ve been a bit restricted since I’ve come back - I didn’t want to do too much, but rather just get out there and play footy.
“Now, I’ve had a few games under my belt so I need to start hitting my straps.”
Rioli was in arguably career-best form in the opening five rounds of this season, averaging 19.4 disposals, four tackles and 2.4 goals per game as a small forward who spends prolonged periods in the midfield.
While he was happy with his 14 touches in Friday night’s win and sees it as a step forward, he says winning the ball isn’t his main focus heading into matches.
One of the best chase-down tacklers in the competition, the Hawks star is one of the few players able to change a game without ball in hand.
He knows that, and admits winning the footy in his own right is nice, but it’s not the reason why he’s one of Hawthorn’s most important players.
Rioli makes that clear when he spends less time speaking about his 14 disposals than the way he works together with fellow small forwards Luke Breust and Paul Puopolo to pressure the opposition.
“I felt like I got a bit more of the ball and had a bit more of an impact (against Essendon),” he said.
“(But) as long as I go into the game wanting to tackle and put pressure on the opposition for the team, I feel like I’m contributing and playing my role.
“I did that on Friday night and caused some turnovers because of my pressure and set up some goals as well which I was pretty happy with.
“I didn’t get as many touches maybe as I would have liked or have in the past, but at the end of the day I’m there to tackle, as is ‘Poppy’ and ‘Breusty’”
He says though, Friday night was just a warm-up.
“I’m a few games in now so hopefully I can hit my straps in the next couple of weeks and heading into finals.”
Rioli didn’t only spend his nine-week layoff refreshing his mind for the season’s business end, but also spent time in the tattoo chair adding to his array of tattoos.
The Hawks star famously has his surname emblazoned on his back and also has a tattoo with family significance on his left inner bicep.
When he returned to the field in Round in Round 15 against Geelong, his Hawthorn guernsey hid a new addition, only visible in part, near his shoulders.
What is it? He’s not ready to reveal that just yet.
“It’s something that took a very long time and means a lot to me. They (the fans) will eventually see it but not just yet,” he said.