Cyril Rioli announces immediate retirement from AFL

Hawthorn premiership star Cyril Rioli has announced his retirement from the AFL, effective immediately.

The 28-year-old had been on compassionate leave since early June, travelling with his family to home town Darwin to attend to personal matters.

Rioli was contracted to the Hawks until the end of the 2020 season but told his teammates of his decision to walk away from the game on Wednesday morning.

'The decision to retire from football is something that I have thought long and hard about over the past 12 months,' Rioli said. 'I've weighed everything up and I am confident the decision I've made is the right one for me and my family.

'Football has been my life but it's always been difficult being away from home. Now is the right time to go home and spend more time with friends and family.

Read full article here