Rioli's AFL retirement no shock to Hawks

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says Cyril Rioli's retirement came as no surprise, with the AFL club having expected the decision to come earlier in the year.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has revealed he was surprised star forward Cyril Rioli didn't retire before the start of the AFL season.

Rioli's retirement on Wednesday at the age of 28 shocked many in the AFL community, but Clarkson and the Hawks have been planning for life without the four-time premiership star for some time.

"In January when he came back (from Darwin) I was actually surprised he said 'I want to keep on going'," Clarkson told reporters on Friday.