Cyril Rioli brings piece of Tiwi Islands to Hawthorn v Port Adelaide clash

That is the message from Hawks superstar Cyril Rioli. 

Hawthorn’s guernsey for Sir Doug Nicholls Round was designed by Darwin-based Tiwi Islands artist Jennifer ‘Lulu’ Coombes, after the club asked Rioli to help create a jumper that was representative of his birthplace. 

“I think it’s good to showcase the Tiwi culture, especially with junior playing with the hawks for so long,” Coombes said.

The guernsey features Pukumani Poles, which are placed at the graves of the deceased on the Tiwi Islands. 

Rioli won’t be sporting the guernsey on Saturday after injuring his knee in Round 4 against Melbourne. 

However, the 189-game forward said it was important for him to celebrate his culture beyond the round. 

“I don’t want to just celebrate my culture one week, I try to celebrate it every day of my life,” he said.  “I think [the round] is a time to show non-Indigenous people my culture and where I’m from.”

Rioli moved from the Tiwi Islands to Melbourne in 2004 after being awarded to a scholarship to Scotch College. 

He boarded for four years at the school, before being drafted by Hawthorn at number 12 in the 2007 National Draft.

“There’s not many people on the Tiwi Islands, but the amount of football players that have come out of that there have been a lot,” Rioli said.  “For a small place, they’ve produced a lot of good footy players and I think they will continue to do that.”