Cyril Rioli's retirement sent shockwaves throughout the AFL as pundits began to realise how special the Hawks legend was. His exploits on the footy field were second to none, and he will be sorely missed by fans all over.
Hawthorn supporters were obviously the most distraught, with the 189-game veteran helping bring four premierships to the famous club, as well as a host of other individual accolades and a highlight reel that stacks up with any sportsman in the world.
But there may be some happiness for the Hawks in the midst of their anguish. The 28-year-old has played just 11 matches in the past two seasons, but because of his All Australian selection in 2016, Rioli was on a relatively big-money contract.
With his retirement beginning effective immediately, that money can now be put towards some star free-agents, namely Rory Sloane and Tom Lynch.
MORE: Cyril Rioli retirement: Hawthorn champ changed the game for small forwards
Rumours of the Adelaide Crows' star midfielder returning home to Victoria has been one of the bigger narratives in the 2018 season. As a restricted free agent, the Crows can match any offer Sloane receives, but after spending 10 years in South Australia and a baby with his wife along the way, calling home to Victoria may be all that Sloane thinks about.
Several clubs including Collingwood, St Kilda and North Melbourne have been linked with the star, however, Gold Coast captain and fellow free agent Tom Lynch may yet be the first domino to fall.
Lynch is one of the AFL's brightest young stars, and the key forward is in high demand with clubs that would love to see the 25-year-old play at an established club with a more impactful engine room.
Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph has reported that Hawthorn are set to be big players in the free agency market with Rioli's money at their disposal.
"(Cyril's decision) might help them get two big fish," Ralph said on AFL Tonight.
"As Geoff Kennett said today, 'Rioli's decision is really selfless'. It comes in early July and gives them a lot of time to plan for their player requirements in 2019.
"I've spoken to a club great, and former list manager in Gary Buckenara and he says they potentially could get Tom Lynch and Rory Sloane.
"Wouldn't that be extraordinary? For Bucky, that pucks them right smack-bang in the premiership window from round one next year.
"If you pitch your services to Rory Sloane in September, he's probably made a decision, if you can get in right now it clouds his decision.
"Rioli is on about $600-$650,000 for each of the next two seasons, with him retiring that sum is null and void, they won't pay it out, every.one is in agreement upon that.
"They already had the cash for Tom Lynch, so now you either get Lynch, or Lynch and Sloane.
"At one stage in 2015, they didn't have one player in the top 30 pay-scale in the AFL, but I think that Alastair Clarkson and Graham Wright the list manager have decided that that's the only way you get stars like that, and it would only cost them $1M to get Lynch.
"Either you get one of those two, or you also go for a small forward, there's loads out there like Shai Bolton on the market.
"Cyril's money now goes into a war chest so they will be well-positioned cap-wise to get even more money to spread over two really good players.
"If you could add Sloane or Lynch, that puts you right back into calculations again. Lynch will have surgery on that PCL reconstruction next week.
"Everyone is saying someone is in front (to sign Lynch), there are three clubs out there, he hasn't even made an official decision, he hasn't met with a coach, he hasn't met with a player leadership group, he hasn't toured facilities, so no one is in front at the moment."
