Why is Cyril Rioli so highly rated?

[Simon_Nesbit]

He's the exact same height and weight as Allen Christensen, and Christensen averaged 21 touches last year. Matty Stokes is smaller and lighter than Rioli and averaged 26 touches last year, his body size/type has nothing to do with it, unless you're talking about his sometimes-dodgy hammies. You don't need 30 touches to make an impact. Rioli can have a massive impact with 15 touches, but seriously, how often does he do this? Many of his games he won't even get to 15, and you can't keep defending a guy who will sometimes have 10/11 possessions by calling him an 'impact' player. It's a cop-out Hawthorn fans are forced into when defending him because the adoration he receives is completely inconsistent with his output.

That's one theory, and perhaps in some cases you're correct. However there is no doubt Rioli is overrated and I think most people genuinely believe this because he simply doesn't do enough yet he is still spruiked as one of the best players in the AFL. It's not just fans either, multiple football commentators have said it too. It's not a personal attack, you can be overrated and still be a good or even great player. It's all relative.

2013 - Christensen (92.7 still developing - future star IMO), Stokes (97.3, 1st season above 90), Rioli (88, first year below 90 since 09).

Rioli averaging 110 pre injury returns slowly and is genuinely inconsistent for pretty much the first time in his career - as with many players he struggled to truly overcome his hamstring injury.

Stokes last year (by far his career best, was immense from rd.19 and continuing it so far this year) equivalent of Rioli's previous four seasons.

 

[worthy]

You're really trying to diss the names Chappy, Bundy, Tomahawk and Buddha? Lmao salty much?

Also Buddha Hocking was actually called Whiskas for a week, so that wasn't a nickname.

No, I was trying to point out that most players have nicknames, I'm all for it, hell, I used to like "shotgun" for Mark Williams, I just your fellow posters views amusing, also, as pointed out above, "sizzle" is a nickname used by his teammates.

 

[kidkenobi]

Averages over 15 a game which makes a mockery of your "many of his games", the people that keep going on about the quantity of possessions are the ones that don't get it.

He's had under 15 touches in 56 of his 125 games which I would suggest isn't great.

 

[Craze]

That's one theory, and perhaps in some cases you're correct. However there is no doubt Rioli is overrated and I think most people genuinely believe this because he simply doesn't do enough yet he is still spruiked as one of the best players in the AFL. It's not just fans either, multiple football commentators have said it too. It's not a personal attack, you can be overrated and still be a good or even great player. It's all relative.

Is there no doubt he is overrated? I guess my opinion doesn't count then. And I didn't see the results of any poll suggesting that most people think he's overrated.

An alternative explanation. Geelong supporters resent the amount of attention Rioli gets by commentators and neutral supporters, and therefore wheel out the 'over-rated' tag at every chance they get.

I watch approx. 5-6 Hawthorn games each year and he is highly influential in most (the 2008 GF a case in point). And yes he is capable of having down days, as are all AFL players. Small forwards are often much maligned. And so much is based on fitness/injuries ... just ask Tom Hawkins.

 

[H2F]

Is there no doubt he is overrated? I guess my opinion doesn't count then. And I didn't see the results of any poll suggesting that most people think he's overrated.

An alternative explanation. Geelong supporters resent the amount of attention Rioli gets by commentators and neutral supporters, and therefore wheel out the 'over-rated' tag at every chance they get.

I watch approx. 5-6 Hawthorn games each year and he is highly influential in most (the 2008 GF a case in point). And yes he is capable of having down days, as are all AFL players. Small forwards are often much maligned. And so much is based on fitness/injuries ... just ask Tom Hawkins.

You are a great person mate.

Geelong fans burn because a 18 year old Rioli inspired a team and took away a premiership they thought was a certainty.

Some of the posters in this thread have admitted it to me when drinking beers before a game.

It burns them inside, which also explains why they resent the name Sizzle.

 

[H2F]

He's had under 15 touches in 56 of his 125 games which I would suggest isn't great.

How many possessions does it take to tear a team a new arse hole?

I'll take a stab...

15

 

[fpm84]

Geelong fans burn because a 18 year old Rioli inspired a team and took away a premiership they thought was a certainty.

I think you're getting Cyril Rioli confused with Dew, Williams and Cameron Mooney's kicking ability.

 

[mike123]

I'm not I honestly believe what I wrote, it's just an honest opinion doesn't mean I'm trolling

seems like Rioli is untouchable and no one can call what they see with him

can you honestly tell me that you think Rioli is a better player than S. Motlop

Dahlhaus and Rioli is closer but I prefer Dahlhaus because he is more consistent than Rioli

Consistently worse.

 

[mike123]

How many possessions does it take to tear a team a new are hole?

I'll take a stab...

15

1

 

[charcoalchicken]

Consistently worse.

yeah nah

 

[Hodgepodge]

He's had under 15 touches in 56 of his 125 games which I would suggest isn't great.

Again, rating players just on possessions. All this criticism is based on a one-dimensional Dream Team perspective on football, nothing more.

 

[H2F]

Again, rating players just on possessions. All this criticism is based on a one-dimensional Dream Team perspective on football, nothing more.

And Geelong bitterness...

Man they are bitter.

Imagine what it will be like when we beat them in the Grand Final this year after suffering two home and away game losses again.

Rioli best on ground and wins the Norm Smith.

CAN YOU IMAGINE THE BITTERNESS?

Cyril Junior Boy Rioli!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hodgepodge]

But even the statement that he doesn't get enough of the football doesn't hold water.

He's averaging more career disposals than Betts, LeCras, Michael Walters, Stephen Milne, Luke Breust, Jamie Elliott, and other small half-forwards who don't receive the same criticism.

 

[H2F]

But even the statement that he doesn't get enough of the football doesn't hold water.

He's averaging more career disposals than Betts, LeCras, Michael Walters, Stephen Milne, Luke Breust, Jamie Elliott, and other small half-forwards who don't receive the same criticism.

But none of those players tore a juggernaut a new arse in a Grand Final at 18 years of age.

 

[krisholio14]

I think he's overrated, or maybe that should be rephrased as overhyped, but but he'd walk into our best 22 quite easily.

 

[maryjames]

Was not long ago hawks supporters had him as the next Ablett jnr and will become fit and calve up the mid field.
Well that really DIdnt turn out well.

 

[fpm84]

He's averaging more career disposals than Betts, LeCras, Michael Walters, Stephen Milne, Luke Breust, Jamie Elliott, and other small half-forwards who don't receive the same criticism.

The whole point of this argument is that NONE of those players have received 1/10th the type of hype and hyperbole Rioli has over the course of his career, despite all being good-to-excellent footballers.

 

[romeoh]

The same sooky LaLa comments as your coach saying we were kicking 10-12 metres..please mate

Haha -yep probs better if he doesn't mention it. Although of course he does have a point, unlike your fantasy stuff.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I'm going to start referring to Steve Johnson only as 'Genius' from now on and see if any Hawk supporters take issue with it.

There lies the difference.

Burgoyne was dubbed "silk" by his teammates soon after crossing from Port.

 

[MotlopMagic]

His defensive/pressure acts are second to none. Offensively he is brilliant but inconsistent.

Highly rated and rightfully so.

 

[Hodgepodge]

The whole point of this argument is that NONE of those players have received 1/10th the type of hype and hyperbole Rioli has over the course of his career

They also don't receive 1/10th of the criticism of Rioli despite being nowhere near as good.

Also, Macavaney's commentary doesn't equal high rating.

 

[romeoh]

And while we are having a bit of fun at the Hawks's expense-what is your captain wearing on his feet and any chance of some real boots?

 

[wowlace]

Because he is delicious.

 

[Bardo State]

The whole point of this argument is that NONE of those players have received 1/10th the type of hype and hyperbole Rioli has over the course of his career, despite all being good-to-excellent footballers.

LeCras and Milne haven't been 'hyped' as much? Nonsense. Milne is often described as one of the best small forwards the game has ever seen and was an AA lock in 2012 despite contributing zero other than his finishing. LeCras similar at times.

Rioli gets 'hype' for three reasons. The first is that his individual plays which get hyped (not to be confused with people'a actual rating of him as a player) usually deserve it. Let's face it, his highlights reel is close to the best in the league. The second and third are that he's indigenous and fast.

Rioli's 2012 was better than any year in Milne's career, yet Milne was considered an AA lock that year while Rioli's inclusion was put down as 'contentious'. His year was extremely consistent yet the same drivel was trodden out; inconsistent, flashy, overrated, lazy etc.

His plays get extremely hyped which unfortunately means that people underrate him as a player. Because they think that he is only a highlights reel when he is so much more than that.

 

[TheWoodenSlug]

So sick of reading about how much 'Geelong supporters' hate Rioli and/or think he is overrated. Not everyone who thinks he is overrated supports Geelong, and not every Geelong supporter thinks he is overrated. Personally, I think he is rated about right by the general public - a good to great player, with elite defensive pressure, who can be inconsistent and drift in and out of games. He has shown periods of consistency (2012, the start of 2013 etc), but has yet to show the season to season consistency that the best players, such as Ablett, Pendlebury etc, have shown (his hamstring injuries have played a pretty major role in this, admittedly).

I agree with the poster above, who mentioned that he is over hyped, rather than overrated. The fact that Bruce and Dermie jizz in the box whenever he gets near the ball can be nauseating at times (ok, nearly always) for opposition supporters, but that really has nothing to do with Rioli, and it doesn't make him any less exciting to watch.

As with the idiots that can't look past the free kicks that Selwood receives and appreciate the brilliant player that he is, I don't understand those that get hung up on the media hype that Rioli receives - warranted or not - and either can't, or simply refuse to see him for the great player that he is. He may never reach the heights of Ablett et al, but I can't think of a more exciting player to watch when on song.