Clarkson will meet with Rioli later today to discuss the forward’s availability for Saturday’s Grand Final clash with the Swans.
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Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson will meet with Cyril Rioli later on Wednesday to discuss whether the livewire forward will be fit to play in Saturday’s AFL grand final.
Rioli returned from a hamstring injury playing for Box Hill in their loss to Footscray in the VFL grand final on Sunday – his first game since round 16.
The 25-year-old played the first three quarters of the game before being rested for the entirety of the final term.
Clarkson said the club would give more time for Rioli to prove his fitness than they would normally give for other players.
“He’s passed a pretty significant test across the weekend but we’ll sit down and have a discussion with him, we’ll probably speak to Andrew Russell and the medicos,” he said.
“It’s a big, big decision for our football club and he’s a very, very special player.
“For probably most players we perhaps wouldn’t consider it but we’re going to run it right to the wire with Cyril because he’s a pretty valuable player and he can turn games pretty quickly when he’s playing.”
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