IF HISTORY is any guide then Hawthorn supporters need not despair about Cyril Rioli's latest long-term hamstring injury.
Although Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson would undoubtedly prefer to have Rioli in his side heading towards September, the Hawks boast a better win-loss ratio without their mercurial star in the past six-and-a-half seasons.
In a bizarre statistic, the Hawks have won 78 per cent of games without Rioli - compared to 66 per cent of matches when he has played - since 2008.
Overall, the Hawks have a 70 per cent winning ratio in that time with 112 wins, one draw and 46 losses.
In another anomaly, the Hawks boast a 100 per cent winning record in four games without Rioli and his former partner in crime up forward, Lance Franklin, during that time.
But despite what the statistics say, the dual-premiership stars' absence could hamper the Hawks' bid for back-to-back flags for the first time since 1989.
Franklin's Sydney Swans could pose a major hurdle for the Hawks in September, while Rioli is in a race against time to be fit for finals after he was diagnosed with a hamstring tendon injury.
