Stephen Coniglio’s drawn-out contract saga is impacting on Giants veterans, including Brett Deledio
GWS veteran Brett Deledio admits he is waiting in limbo while Stephen Coniglio continues to deliberate over his future as a number of off-contract Giants find themselves in the same boat.
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The hidden impact of Stephen Coniglio’s protracted saga is that it has left Greater Western Sydney’s other off-contract stars in limbo.
Giants veteran Brett Deledio has revealed he is desperate to win a new deal for next season, but is in a holding pattern as Coniglio continues to weigh up offers from around the league, estimated to exceed $1.3 million.
Deledio refused to blame Coniglio for taking the best part of a year to make his decision, but admits the reality is he and his young family remain uncertain about what the future holds, and fellow experienced stars Shane Mumford and Heath Shaw would appear to be in the same boat.
Coniglio’s ultimate decision between the Giants, Hawthorn, Carlton and St Kilda could set off a chain reaction of moves across the league, and although GWS have been happy to play the waiting game with the most sought-after star in the AFL, the drawn-out negotiation is starting to pinch.
“I think everyone is waiting on what Stevie Coniglio does right across the league, not just the Giants,” Deledio told The Daily Telegraph.
“Every day, mate, I’m in his ear! I said, ‘I’ve got a family to look after mate, it’s not just about you and putting fuel in your car! I’ve got other responsibilities, so any danger would be nice!’
“He’s well within his rights to do his due diligence and wait until he really needs to.”
Deledio and Coniglio share a tight enough bond that they can joke about the situation. But the delicate challenge facing the 32-year-old midfielder is real and he doesn’t expect to know his future until season’s end.
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“That’s it. We’ve (other off-contracted players like Mumford) just got to be patient and not let it get to us. It’s hard one for myself. I’ve never been in a position where I’ve been out of contract and in this position,” said Deledio, who doesn’t want to look for a third club.
“So it’s something new for me. But all I can control is what I’m doing … and let it all take care of itself at the end of the year. If I play good enough footy for the rest of the year and stay healthy I think it should take care of itself.
“I know what I want to do (play on). It’ll just be as to what the club sees fit and where it all fits.
“I think that’s the beauty of having Wayne Campbell (Giants football boss) as a good mate, let alone a boss. Wayne and I are in regular discussions and he just checks in and makes sure I’m aware of it but also he understands that it’s not ideal that he can’t give me anything.
“He knows there’s other people at play with this in my family, but we’re on the same page and we know it was always going to be the latter part of the year versus signing up in January, that’s for sure.”
Deledio has had a better run with his troublesome calf this year than in previous seasons and doesn’t want to retire too early.
Mumford is in a similar boat and is keen to go around again body willing, while Shaw is less certain — revealing at his 300-game press conference that he would retire if GWS won the competition.
Deledio yesterday mingled with hundreds of boys and girls participating at the Paul Kelly Cup, held at Giants Stadium for the first time in its distinguished history.
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