New GWS vice-captain Toby Greene says the players have amazing faith in skipper Stephen Coniglio

When he was dropped last season GWS skipper Stephen Coniglio was left isolated, but his teammates won’t let him down in 2021.

Newly elevated GWS vice-captain Toby Greene says offering more support to Stephen Coniglio is a priority this season after admitting the skipper was left “isolated” during a turbulent 2020.

In his first season as captain, Coniglio‘s form dipped so dramatically last year he became the first AFL skipper to be dropped in 22 years.

His dramatic axing has been played out over and over again recently after the release of a behind-the-scenes documentary.

In one scene of “Making Their Mark”, Greene told Coniglio and coach Leon Cameron that the rest of the leadership group “probably haven’t helped him too much as what we should have”.

Green delivered a similar message on Thursday and said that would all change in 2021.

“He would have felt a bit isolated and probably under the pump. I’m there to help,” Greene said.

“I know a lot of the other guys are there as well. We had a lot of younger guys in leadership (group) last year, so hopefully we’re a year better and a year older.”

Greene said the playing group had “amazing” faith in Coniglio.

“That’s shown, every day on the track and in the gym and at training. Everyone’s got the utmost respect and looking forward to what we can do this year together.”

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Having shied away from leadership in his early days, Greene, who is now entering his 10th AFL season, said he needed to “give back”.

“It was something I definitely shied way from and wasn’t too good at it either,” he said.

“But as I got older I became a bit of a pillar in this group, and I feel I need to be giving back.”

The Giants missed the finals last season and have lost star forward Jeremy Cameron, the club’s all-time leading goal kicker, to Geelong.

But Greene, who is second on that goalkicking list, said his side, with a lot of younger faces, could still be “really dangerous” ahead of a season-opening clash with St Kilda.

“It‘s different (without Cameron),” Greene said on Thursday.

“But it‘s been great. A lot of younger guys, it’s definitely a younger forward line.

“We feel really dangerous and we‘ll work together every week and just continue to get better.”

Originally published as New GWS vice-captain Toby Greene says the players have amazing faith in skipper Stephen Coniglio