• Cyril Rioli will attend Saturday’s Indigenous All Stars game
  • Has distanced himself from the AFL after 2018 retirement
  • Settled a Federal Court case with Hawthorn last November

By ANDREW PRENTICE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Footy legend Cyril Rioli has informed the AFL he will attend the Indigenous All Stars game in Perth this Saturday when they tackle Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

Rioli, 35, lives in Darwin and it comes after the four-time premiership hero settled a Federal Court case with Hawthorn last November.

The former half forward was the lead applicant in a statement of claim alongside his wife Shannyn, former players Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, his partner Montanah-Rae Lewis and Hawthorn’s former Indigenous liaison officer Leon Egan.

It was a saga which lasted more than two years after it first surfaced publicly in September of 2022.

Racism allegations were aimed against the Hawks, former coach Alastair Clarkson, his former assistant Chris Fagan and ex-welfare manager Jason Burt.

The trio were later cleared by the AFL of any alleged wrongdoing following an investigation. 

Footy legend Cyril Rioli has informed the AFL he will attend the Indigenous All Stars game in Perth this weekend when they tackle Fremantle at Optus Stadium (pictured, in 2018)

It comes after the four-time premiership hero settled a Federal Court case with Hawthorn last November (pictured, with wife Shannyn)

It comes after the four-time premiership hero settled a Federal Court case with Hawthorn last November (pictured, with wife Shannyn)

Sydney Swans dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes (pictured) and ex-teammate Lance 'Buddy' Franklin were also invited by the AFL to attend the Indigenous All Stars match - but both declined the opportunity

Sydney Swans dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes (pictured) and ex-teammate Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin were also invited by the AFL to attend the Indigenous All Stars match – but both declined the opportunity

The statement of claim included allegations of unlawful discrimination, including family separations and pressuring a pregnancy termination.

Rioli claimed during his time at the Hawks from 2008 to 2018, he was regularly subjected to comments that were ‘culturally ignorant.’

The cult hero alleged when he was once sitting with other Indigenous players, he was told by then Hawks coach Clarkson, ‘Oh, all the brother boys together’ and ‘why don’t youse come and sit with everyone else?’

Rioli also alleged in the court documents he was called ‘Humphrey B Bear’ by Clarkson and ‘thereby associated…with a black bear’.

It was reported the players and their families involved in the court proceedings were paid an undisclosed sum following the settlement agreement.

Meanwhile, Sydney Swans dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes and ex-teammate Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin were also invited by the AFL to attend the Indigenous All Stars match at Optus Stadium – but both declined to attend.

It is understood Goodes has no plans to attend future AFL functions after he was subjected to constant jeers from rival fans in the twilight in his career.

Goodes infamously reacted after he was racially abused by a teenage girl during a match in 2013.

He maintained he had to speak up at the time ‘to stand against racism’ – and later received an apology from the AFL.

Decorated Indigenous stars Nicky Winmar and Essendon legend Michael Long will be at the match this weekend. 

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Footy legend Cyril Rioli to make rare public appearance at Indigenous All Stars game in Perth – after settling legal action against Hawthorn

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