Breakthrough in Hawthorn racism drama between club boss Jeff Kennett and Cyril Rioli

Under-fire Hawthorn boss Jeff Kennett has taken the first step to patching up the club’s relationship with Cyril Rioli after the premiership-winning hero broke off all contact with the Hawks over racism allegations.

Kennett is currently in Darwin, where Rioli lives, and has exchanged test messages with the former star after being unable to meet him in person.

Rioli is still refusing to meet Kennett or other Hawthorn officials, continuing the self-imposed exile from the club that began in 2018.

‘I’ve sent Cyril many, many text messages over recent times. He sent me one in January first, wanting to talk, and I have not been back here in Darwin since to do that,’ Kennett told the Herald Sun.

‘We connected on Monday briefly and I’m hoping that might lead to a better flow of communications.’

Kennett has tried to contact Rioli ‘many, many’ times recently and finally got a reply from the premiership hero on Monday

The former Victorian premier found himself at the centre of a storm over racism allegations in early April, when Rioli revealed comments made by Kennett to his wife Shannyn in 2018 were the ‘final straw’ that forced him out of footy and away from the club.

Shannyn said Kennett had mocked her designer jeans with intentional rips in them after a game in Tasmania, at one point pulling loose change from his pockets so she could pay to have them repaired. 

It deeply offended Rioli’s wife and despite apologies from Kennett and a personal letter from the club to Shannyn, Rioli ultimately retired and turned his back on the club aged just 28.

Rioli (far left) celebrates his fourth premiership with teammates after the Hawks beat West Coast in the 2016 grand final. He was lost to the game – and the team – just two years later

Rioli now lives in Darwin, where Kennett tried and failed to catch up with him in person this week before the two connected via text message

Rioli also said a senior Hawthorn player that a senior Hawks player asked his fellow players whether the partner of an Indigenous teammate was ‘also a b***g’ in what he said was a long list of incidents with players and staff.

Asked about a possible return to the Hawks fold in early April, he said of Kennett: ‘I wouldn’t want to be there while he’s there.’

Kennett wrote a letter to a Hawthorn member in early April in which he denied he or the club behaved in a racist manner, but admitted the Hawks are still learning from ‘what has happened in the past’.

The club president wants to invite Rioli and his wife to their Anzac Day game this year, with the Hawks reportedly keen to meet with him when they play in Darwin on May 28.

Kennett also connected with Rioli’s uncle, Indigenous AFL trailblazer Michael Long, in Darwin on Tuesday as part of his efforts to mend fences with the four-time flag winner.