GWS senior coach Adam Kingsley has explained the decision to pull veteran Stephen Coniglio moments before Sunday's contest against West Coast, stating the 31-year-old was dealing with glute and hamstring soreness.
"[Cognilio] just woke up yesterday morning after main training [with soreness]. No incident; he didn't report any soreness during Friday at all and just woke up Saturday morning with a bit more soreness in his glute," Kingsley said.
"We tested him before the game, thinking he'd probably be okay, but Stephen was just a bit worried with hamstring and glute stuff... We were going to play him a half but decided to pull the pin. He'll be fine for next week."
Kingsley commended the efforts of spearhead Jesse Hogan, who recently returned from his own injury, as he equalled his career-high of nine goals in a game during Sunday's clash.
"You don't have to do much to drive him," Kingsley said.
"He's self-driven, hard worker and a meticulous preparer. He does all the little things, and so we often use him as an example to our players around how we need to prepare ourselves. Whether it's recovery, body, watching tape, preparing for opposition players, he's as good as anyone."
Hogan had an opportunity to break his career-high of nine goals during the fourth quarter, but unselfishly gave off a handball in the goal square, which Kingsley praised was simply in his nature.
"It's a reflection of him. I'm just thinking he's playing the game, but when you find out he's on nine and he gives off a handball in the goal square, that's a reflection of his character and person that he is.
"He values team above his own individual performance and accolades. There's a lot of aspects of him and his game that we use as an example for our players and that's just another one."
The Giants will look to stave off a red-hot St Kilda during Gather Round on Sunday, hoping to see another monstrous performance from their key forwards.
