Rioli and McEvoy to play AFL grand final

Cyril Rioli will play in Saturday’s AFL grand final, with Hawthorn also recalling burly ruckman Ben McEvoy.

The Hawks made two changes to the side that pipped Port Adelaide in last Saturday’s preliminary final.

Rioli and McEvoy are back for Jonathon Ceglar and Jonathan Simpkin.

Sydney name an unchanged side, coach John Longmire happy to rely on the same 22 players that delivered victory in week one and three of the finals.

Rioli has not played an AFL clash since round 15 due to a serious hamstring injury.

He returned in last Sunday’s VFL grand final, sitting out the final quarter.

“He looked really good and I suppose if the coaches had any doubt they probably have a bigger headache now,” Hawks midfield Jordan Lewis said of Rioli after Thursday’s one-hour training session at Waverley Park.

“He trained really well.”

McEvoy, the club’s prized off-season recruit, has not played in the AFL since round 21 due to the form of Ceglar.

McEvoy knows the devastation Ceglar would be feeling well, having been dropped by St Kilda coach Ross Lyon for the 2010 grand final.

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