Giants urged to part ways with out-of-favour skipper

“It solves a lot of problems for the Giants.”

STAFF WRITER | August 23, 2021 - 11:23am

Port Adelaide icon Kane Cornes has stated an intriguing proposition to resolve the impending off-season issues both GWS and Fremantle face.

The revelation made was that the Giants should trade their out-of-favour captain Stephen Coniglio back home to WA.

The move would rid GWS of any internal drama while providing the Dockers with an immediate replacement for young gun Adam Cerra, who is looking increasingly likely to return home to Victoria this off-season.

Its quite clear that Coniglio hasn't lived up to expectations in recent years, having figuratively fallen off a cliff since signing his monstrous seven-year contract.

“(Stephen Coniglio is) in a really awkward position. It’s just one of the biggest falls in form that you can remember," Cornes stated when speaking on SEN.

“I think he ends up at Fremantle, doesn’t he?

“If Fremantle loses Cerra, you could argue that the right home for Coniglio for both clubs is at Fremantle."

This season the Giants' captain has seen a considerable drop in his averages over the course of this year, falling below his numbers from 2019 - his contract year - in disposals, tackles, inside 50's, contested possessions and disposal efficiency.

Although injuries have impacted Coniglio’s season, having only mustered five games to date, his play has been in decline for consecutive seasons. Something that was clearly captured during the Making Their Mark series, where his shortcomings where a central theme in the GWS segments, culminating in him being dropped in dramatic fashion.

Cornes went on to suggest Coniglio's departure would open the opportunity for star forward Toby Greene to take on the role as captain of the club.

“Get GWS to pay a large part of the salary for that, it removes the awkwardness, Toby Greene is your immediate captain, it solves a lot of problems for the Giants," he said.

Cornes then continued by alluding to Coniglio's selection, with the 27-year-old failing to make the Giants' best 22 on the weekend, having been the medical sub for Saturday's clash with Carlton and looking unlikely to reclaim a starting sport anytime soon.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MAY 04: Stephen Coniglio of the Giants gestures to a team mate during the round seven AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the St Kilda Saints at Manuka Oval on May 04, 2019 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“You can’t play him (Coniglio, in this Elimination Final), can you? He’s probably the medical sub again," Cornes said.

The Giants have a tough call to make this week as they face cross-town rivals Sydney in an Elimination Final on Saturday afternoon, and an even tougher call to make at seasons’ end.