It was another brilliant season from excitement machine Cyril Rioli, which culminated in the crowd favourite winning his second premiership with the Club.

But while he enjoyed the spoils of the premiership win, season 2013 was by no means an easy one for Rioli.

The dynamo played 15 of a possible 25 games in a season interrupted by injury.

He averaged 15 disposals, 4.2 tackles and 1.3 goals across the 15 games but we saw the best of Cyril at the start and end of the year.

Rioli averaged 19.4 disposals and 2.4 goals in the opening five matches of the season and on many occasions had the Hawthorn faithful in awe of his freakish talents and defensive abilities.

He began with a 20 disposal and five tackle effort against the Cats in Round 1 before a best on ground performance against the Eagles in Round 2 in which he kicked four goals from 16 touches.

Those performances were backed up by a 24 disposal and five tackle game against Collingwood in Round 3, then 17 touches and three goals against Fremantle.

But it was his performance against North Melbourne where he almost single-handedly won the game for his team that has fans on the edge of their seats every time he went near the ball.

In that game he kicked four goals and had 20 disposals before tearing his hamstring on an electric run on the Southern wing of the MCG.

It was a cruel turn of events for the 24 year old who was having one of the best games of his career.

That injury sidelined him for eight weeks before he finally returned against the Cats in Round 15 as the substitute.

It took him a couple of weeks to find his groove, and when he did, it was with devastating effect.

14 disposals, five tackles and a goal had him amongst the best afield in the win over Essendon in Round 18, then a brilliant performance against Collingwood where he set up a number of scoring chances thanks to his clean ball handling and electrifying pace, Rioli sparked the side’s important win over the Pies.

Then, when he again was enjoying another impressive performance against the Kangaroos, injury struck but this time, an ankle.

He missed the final home and away game against the Swans in Round 23 and wasn’t right for the Qualifying Final – he was a late withdrawal from that game.

Rioli returned in the Preliminary Final against Geelong and performed well, with his tackling pressure the highlight of his 16 disposal game.

He was then an important contributor in the Grand Final, where again his pressure around the ball was brilliant. He laid seven tackles – including a crucial tackle in the second term that resulted in a holding the ball free kick and a goal from directly in front.

His skills, pace and ability to cleanly handle the ball no matter the situation allowed him to have an impact in any conditions and like his performances in years previous, his ability to have as much an impact without the ball as when he does have it makes him one of the Hawks’ most important players.

His opening five rounds, in which he was probably Hawthorn’s best player only whets the appetite for what he could achieve if allowed an injury-free run in 2014.

Another strong pre-season will enable Rioli to hit the ground running and be ready to attack his seventh AFL season.

He also signed a contract extension with the Club mid-year and declared he wants to be a one-club player.

The news only gets better for Hawks fans when it comes to Cyril.

What Chris Fagan said: “He is just a superstar player. People underestimate the value he gives in putting pressure on the opposition, which then turns into possessions for us.

“He had a bit of an injury-interrupted season with that break in the middle but his first five or six weeks were as good as we’ve seen from him.

“If he can get an injury-free season and reproduce that form, then anything is possible with Cyril. He can play anywhere on the ground and is a super team player and he’s highly respected for that.

“He made a significant contribution in the Grand Final with his ball use and his pressure.”

Videos featuring Rioli in 2013
- Rioli speaks after the Round 21 win over Collingwood
- Rioli re-signs
- Indigenous Round Rioli interview