An AFL premiership on Saturday would mean much more to Hawthorn’s Cyril Rioli than his first because it would have come so much harder.

The classy speedster was a teenager in his debut season when he helped deliver the Hawks the 2008 flag with some timely second-half magic to rip the game away from the heavily favoured Geelong.

But only after experiencing the pain of subsequent failed campaigns, particularly last year’s agonising preliminary final defeat, does Rioli realise what that achievement was worth.

“This time around it’s a lot different,” Rioli told reporters on Sunday.

“It’s going to certainly mean a lot more to me if we get over the line.

“I thought it was going to happen every year but it hasn’t.

“We’ve lost finals and prelims so certainly I’m hungrier to get another grand final.

“The hurt last year really hit me.”

It was some more Rioli brilliance against Adelaide late in Saturday night’s preliminary final that helped deliver the Hawks another shot at glory, against Sydney on Saturday.

In an interesting subplot, the Swan expected to line up on him, Nick Smith, captained Rioli when they were schoolmates at Melbourne’s Scotch College.

“We’re pretty close and it will be a bit weird playing against him this week, but to be playing against him in a grand final, it’s going to be exciting,” Rioli said.

Like the Swans’ thrilling indigenous speedster Lewis Jetta, Rioli’s form and confidence has built beautifully heading into the decider.

He freely admits to being captivated by Jetta’s performance against Collingwood on Friday night, particularly the Swan’s breathtaking 80m run to goal in the first quarter.

“I was certainly jumping off the couch,” Rioli said.

Asked if he could have run Jetta down: “Probably not, but I would have tried to.”