A pair of cryptic comments on social media from Hawthorn great Cyril Rioli have sparked intrigue into a potential AFL return for the four-time premiership player.
An Instagram post by fan account Hawthornzone celebrating Rioli on Sunday led the 2015 Norm Smith Medal winner to respond with a GIF captioned 'job's not finished', with Rioli then responding with "NO contract offers as yet", sparking an interest from fans in a potential return to the Hawks, or elsewhere, for the 34-year-old.
While a playing role would be unlikely, Rioli could potentially land an off-field position at Waverley and reunite with Hawthorn senior coach and former teammate Sam Mitchell.
Rioli, a key figure in the club's four premierships under ex-coach Alastair Clarkson, last played in the brown and gold in 2018, announcing his immediate retirement midway through the season in what was an interrupted and difficult year for the small forward.
The Tiwi Islands-born footballer's relationship with the club has been fractured since his departure, with Rioli and his wife, Shannyn, revealing last year the details around an infamous incident with President Jeff Kennett as the "final straw" leading up to his retirement in 2018.
At the time, Rioli stated Hawthorn would be the last club he'd consider offering his services to.
"I'd be up for helping clubs if they wanted me … Richmond or West Coast … but I wouldn't go back to Hawthorn after what's gone on," Roili told The Age in 2022.
"It's the only club I wouldn't put my hand up for right now."
Rioli played 189 games for Hawthorn between 2008-2018, booting 275 goals to earn All-Australian honours on three occasions.