HAWTHORN star Cyril Rioli can recognise a kindred football spirit when he sees one and he is an unabashed fan of Grand Final opponent Lewis Jetta.

The exciting pair could shape their teams' fortunes at a wet MCG and to have both involved in Saturday's Grand Final - among a host of indigenous stars - is a spectator's dream.

Rioli, who played in Hawthorn's 2008 premiership in his first season, is happy to praise Jetta, who was recruited by the Sydney Swans as a 20-year-old and has reached the Grand Final in his third season.

"He's shown that he's one of the elite runners and players and he's really stepped it up this year," Rioli said of Jetta at Friday's Grand Final Parade.

"For a young indigenous person being a good role model, he's showing people that if you work hard at it good things will happen."

Asked about Jetta's spectacular three-bounce goal against Collingwood in last Friday night's preliminary final at ANZ Stadium, Rioli said, "Everyone likes watching that type of footy."

With rain forecast, breath-taking football might appear less likely to be produced on the Grand Final stage, but Jetta said he would relish wet conditions.

"A bit of rain won't hurt anyone," he said. "I love it. The bigger guys, they slow down, but I just seem to glide across the puddles.

"Even back home in WA, when it rained I just loved it. I love wet weather footy."

Jetta has kicked 45 goals in 24 games for the Swans this season, and he has spoken this week about producing his own "Michael Long moment" on the big stage.
 
Long famously burst through the middle of the MCG and took four bounces before kicking a brilliant running goal against Carlton in Essendon's 1993 premiership win.
 
Rioli, who was selected in the All Australian team for the first time this year, produced some magic of his own in last Saturday night's preliminary final against Adelaide to send Hawthorn into the Grand Final.
 
He has kicked 39 goals in 22 games this season - including two in each of the Hawks' finals - and said the spread of indigenous talent in Saturday's Grand Final was great for the game. 

"There's a lot of mature guys, especially 'Goodesy' (Adam Goodes) and Shaun (Burgoyne), being a lot older and Goodesy being a dual Brownlow medallist," Rioli said. 

"It's certainly good seeing those guys playing in a Grand Final and hopefully they can show their stuff tomorrow."

Nathan Schmook is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan