HE RETURNED just in time to become a triple premiership player, but Cyril Rioli admitted he feared his season was over when he tore his hamstring in round 15.   

 

Rioli said he found out on Thursday that he would be picked for Hawthorn's Grand Final team after a nervous few days following his return via the VFL last week.

 

But being in contention was simply a good thing given the 25-year-old said there were times through the year he thought he wouldn't return in 2014.

 

"A lot of things ran through my mind that I wasn't going to get back so it's a credit to the fitness staff for getting me back and I'm so thankful for that. We've got a great bunch of people down there to get me through," Rioli said.

 

"My goal was to just put on that forward pressure with the boys up there and I think we did that and did it all day, so I'm just stoked."

Rioli gathered nine disposals before being subbed out in the fourth quarter of the Hawks' big win over the Sydney Swans.

 

But it was the little things he added which were important, and he set up two goals – one with a smother and the other deftly intercepting a handball in the forward half.

 

He said he was happy with his performance as he added to his 2008 and 2013 premiership medals, saying his third flag was the most satisfying.

 

"I get a lot of joy out of giving goals off – it's the same as kicking a goal for me. I try to get my teammates into the game," he said.

 

"This is the best one by far, just to get one back against Sydney."

 

"We knew in the past that we've played so well together. As soon as he was right to play there was a fair bit of confidence in our forward line," Breust said.

 

"The perceived pressure of him around the ball puts indecision into opposition players, and that's all you need in this type of footy."

 

Jonathan Simpkin, after 18 games in Hawthorn's senior side this season, was dropped for Rioli, and coach Alastair Clarkson said the club needed to be sure of Rioli's fitness.  

 

"It was probably obvious to everyone that he was going to be the one to miss if Cyril was able to get up, and we knew that for some time without being absolutely sure Cyril was going to get through," the victorious coach said.

 

"[Rioli's] training over the last two to three weeks has been really good, albeit he only played a little bit of game time last week at Box Hill, it was enough for us to be convinced he was able to get through a game of footy today.

 

"I walked into the changerooms after the parade yesterday – we've got a basketball ring in our warm-up area – and I saw Cyril dunking the ball. I thought to myself 'If he's prepared to dunk the footy, he's going to be OK today', so I'm pleased to see that."