Stephen Coniglio 200th game: GWS Giants star opens up on milestone, family, Adam Kingsley

Stephen Coniglio is planning a triple celebration for the weekend of his 200th game, hoping it will be the night GWS locks in a finals berth before he celebrates a special family milestone.

Coniglio knows his premiership window at the Giants is getting smaller. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Giants are no longer strangers to September action.

They’ve played finals in six of the past eight seasons and made it to the 2019 grand final.

But there’s a sense that the club is nearing the end of its first substantial chapter.

Champions like inaugural captain Phil Davis are hanging up their boots.

Milestones are coming thick and fast for players who have been there since the beginning.

For some, there’s an impending feeling it could be now or never.

“We’re impatient to see (a premiership) come,” Stephen Coniglio said.

Coniglio is one of just five Giants remaining from their first season after Phil Davis’ retirement. Picture: Cameron Richardson

The 29-year-old will become the fifth Giant to bring up 200 AFL games this weekend in the do-or-die clash against Carlton.

While the focus for the club is on winning to secure their place in the top eight, it will be another opportunity to celebrate a Giants’ legend.

Yet for Coniglio, it’s a reminder of how hard it is — and how close they’ve been — to winning on that final Saturday of the season.

“A lot of what Phil (Davis) said the other day resonated with me a lot, particularly with the chances we’ve had,” Coniglio said.

“We want to try and win every year and ultimately, we know it’s not possible every year. But just how quickly time goes, (particularly) for me and guys like Toby (Greene) and Josh (Kelly).”

There has been plenty for the Giants to sing about in 2023. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The rise of the Giants in 2023 is just a precursor to the potential they have in the years to come.

In their first season under Adam Kingsley, they have set a club-record winning streak, as well as a club-record victory over Essendon last weekend.

Coniglio might be desperate to add a premiership medal to his cabinet, but he knows that the club is perfectly placed to do it at some point in the future.

“You look at guys like Tom Green, I think it’s only his fourth year. Guys like Lachie Ash, they’re starting to become established names in the competition,” Coniglio said.

“So, from our perspective, it is impatience. (But) I remember being their age in our fourth year rocking up in a prelim and just thinking this is going to be us every year. It goes quickly and it’s such a hard competition.

“We very much want it to be now, but we’re under no illusions that the future is very bright for the club.”

Coniglio’s form has been one of several highlights for the Giants this season. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images

CAREER-BEST COGS

It was only two years ago that good judges were writing Coniglio off.

As he juggled first-time captaincy with the pressure of being one of the high-profile players coming off a big grand final loss, he admits he was far from his best on the field.

But in 2023, he has completely turned it around.

“I haven’t really looked at it statistically … but I would say it’s my best maybe in terms of a role in the team that I’ve played for a year,” Coniglio said.

“When I went through that spell, the first thing you need is to be honest with yourself. And I was really honest with myself.

“What was most important was just getting back to basics and surrounding myself and my thoughts with good feelings again.

“I’m just loving playing footy, loving being coached by Adam … and the group at the moment it’s a special feeling. The only thing I can really compare it to is how it felt in 2015 and 2016.”

The Giants’ turnaround has come late in the season, but the players never lacked belief that they would bounce back quickly from a disappointing 2022.

Their style of footy has been entertaining and the players love turning up to training each day. And for Coniglio, he’s enjoyed watching one of his great mates be the one to lead them into a new era.

Coniglio was more than happy to pass the leadership baton on to one of his best mates. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“We were used to losing for a long time and we needed to get that feeling of knowing how to win games again,” Coniglio said.

“Once we got that, we took it and won seven in a row.

“The proudest moment I’ve ever had is being named captain of this club. But it sits with me perfectly …. Toby is one of my best mates at the club and I couldn’t be happier that he’s been able to do that at such a level where he should be All-Australian captain next week.

“Although it’s the last round of the year, we just love playing each game and don’t want it to stop.”

The ultimate celebration for Coniglio in his 200th would be a win to lock in finals, but a fantastic night at an Italian restaurant in Lygon Street with family making the trip from Perth could be a close second.

“My Nonna who is about to turn 90, is a special edition, she doesn’t get over to too many games,” Coniglio said.

“It’ll be nice to see her this week. There will be a fair few Italians making the trip over.

“I can’t wait for this week and what could evolve.”