I know this is not a MFC related thing but what a pity to lose a player like that.

When you look at what he has achieved : 4 Premierships, 1 Norm Smith and 3 All Australians, you have got to feel the game is poorer for such a player to leave at a relatively young age.

He has changed the role of the small forward in modern football with his Lower Possession, High impact, Team things and Tackling (actual and perceived.

In my opinion he is one of the games greats.  Well done Cyril  ( at least we have the highlights to be viewed)

Broooose will be in mourning.

 

Bruce may not survive this news

 

Fingers Crossed. 

 

Cyril could play the game alright, but he chose to wear a Whorethorn Jumper which meant i didn’t see a lot of his career. 

Witnessing Whorethorn greatness is something i now avoid after working with 3 of their arrogant supporters for many years....

Very good player but the ridiculous hyperbole online today is insane.  It’s turning him into some sort of mythical, superhuman player that many wanted him to be, but he simply never was.

In the tradition of Mitchell, Hodge and Lewis I'd laugh if he ends up playing elsewhere next year.

3 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

In the tradition of Mitchell, Hodge and Lewis I'd laugh if he ends up playing elsewhere next year.

Methinks those players being ‘moved on’ may be behind his decision 

Severely overrated. 

15 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Severely overrated. 

I agree, flashy, media hype.

 

Jeff Garlett averages more goals per game than Cyril.

Garlett: 172 games, 11.2disp ave, 1.8goals, 3.5tackles. 303 goals total

Rioli: 189 games, 15.1disp ave, 1.5goals, 4.6tackles. 275 goals total

 

Rioli did play in a champion team, 4 flags, won a North Smith? 3 x AA?

 

 

Edited July 4, 20187 yr by SFebey

12 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Severely overrated. 

Cyril is/was a star.

Petracca is severely overrated.

3 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

Cyril is/was a star.

Petracca is severely overrated.

Star?  Yes.

Legend..? Great of the game..? Greatest ever small forward..?  (all terms being dealt out like candy today)

Not by a long, long way.

 

I've heard a few times from commentators over the years, and Fox Footy ran with it again this morning, that he does the most damage with the least possessions of any player in the history of the game.  It's just a laughable way of excusing the fact that he was able to get very few possessions in a game.  189 matches - ZERO 30 possession games and only got over (got over 25 only 4 times).

Who would do more damage with 10 kicks... Lockett, Dunstall, Ablett snr., Hudson,  Coleman... or Cyril Rioli??? 

20 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

Cyril is/was a star.

Petracca is severely overrated.

Kicked less goals and played more games than Jeffy. He’s a flashy player who’s been talked up for that long by the media that people have been sucked in and believe the hype. He’s not a star. 

Edited July 4, 20187 yr by Ethan Tremblay

Let this be repeated again;

4 flags, 3 All Australians, 1 Norm Smith.  He will, and deserves to be, inducted in to the AFL Hall of Fame in due course.

And to use the "Jeffy averages more goals per game" argument, it's laughable.  Who was Jeffy competing with in terms of other goal scorers?  Cyril didn't need to kick bulk goals - he had Franklin and Roughead, and to a lesser extent, Bruce and Gunston to compete against.

It wouldn't have been the easiest position to play in that team (in terms of scoring mass goals), yet he made the most of the scoring opportunities he got.   His great strength was his forward pressure - a career average of 4.6 tackles per game is quite amazing in a 189 career - to create greater opportunities for his team.  He was also strong overhead.

I don't froth over him like Bruce, et al, but if you don't think he's been a star, then you are either biased, uneducated, or just plain ignorant.

I'd love to know who is or has been a better small forward than him.  I can't think of any in my time, but while Im older than many on here, there's also a community that I'm nowhere near!

2 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

I’d love to know who is or has been a better small forward than him.  I can't think of any in my time, but while Im older than many on here, there's also a community that I'm nowhere near!

Jeff Farmer. 

Good player in a great team. Not a “champion” for mine. Better players?  Hmmm....KB, Daicos, even Jeff Farmer perhaps?

6 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Jeff Farmer. 

milne

now i'll go and wash my mouth out

Just now, Ethan Tremblay said:

Jeff Farmer. 

Please.  The Wiz is my favourite Demon of all time, but he was nowhere near as consistent as Rioli.

Compare the pair;

Rioli: 189 games, 15.1disp ave, 1.5goals, 4.6tackles. 275 goals total

Wiz: 249 games, 11.5disp ave, 1.94goals, 1.6tackles, 483 goals total

If you want to use the "goals per game" stat in your argument, why not look at Milne.

3 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

milne

now i'll go and wash my mouth out

....with petrol.

Rioli not a champion? I have heard it all now.

2 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

Please.  The Wiz is my favourite Demon of all time, but he was nowhere near as consistent as Rioli.

Compare the pair;

Rioli: 189 games, 15.1disp ave, 1.5goals, 4.6tackles. 275 goals total

Wiz: 249 games, 11.5disp ave, 1.94goals, 1.6tackles, 483 goals total

If you want to use the "goals per game" stat in your argument, why not look at Milne.

I prefer my small forwards to kick goals. 

1 minute ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I prefer my small forwards to kick goals. 

Yep. That’s their primary role.

A great player.

One of a group of Hawks champs that contributed to their great success and could turn matches. 

It is not just the magic goal or mark but the impact on the whole team. He may not have got most possessions or goals but how he did it and when he did it was at times pivotal.  He also caused confusion to the opponent with defenders being led a merry dance. His presence gave opportunities to others.

Sensible decision to retire.

Recent seasons we have seen Cyril drop off due to motivation, injury and fitness. He had definitely lost a yard. 

Just now, Ethan Tremblay said:

I prefer my small forwards to kick goals. 

Wiz had to.  Rioli had two key forwards (Buddy, Roughy) that were consistently kicking over 50 goals a season, and Breust was kicking over 40 a season too.  The fact he kicked as many as he did was a bloody good effort.

But using career goals as your sole criteria to determine how good a small forward is/was will always see a discrepancy with reality.  I can't help you any further sorry Ethan.

2 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

I can't help you any further sorry Ethan.

All good mate, didn’t need it to start with. 

There's a lot of good players around that never got a chance to play at the highest level.

Some players get to pick where they want to play, some don't care as long as they play, and some don't get a choice. It's all relative

Just now, Ethan Tremblay said:

All good mate, didn’t need it to start with. 

Yes you did, and still do. ?