Will Stephen Coniglio’s All-Australian snub provide ammunition needed for GWS to beat Sydney
THE AFL has been accused of favouring players on reputation after GWS Giants midfielder Stephen Coniglio was sensationally snubbed from the All-Australian 40-man squad.
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THE AFL has been accused of favouring players on reputations after GWS Giants midfielder Stephen Coniglio was sensationally snubbed from the All-Australian 40-man squad.
If the Giants were looking to take a siege mentality into next week’s elimination final against Sydney, the dismissal of Coniglio’s bumper season by the league’s representative selectors has provided the ammunition.
Coniglio averaged 27.9 disposals and kicked 21 goals in 21 matches this season, finishing with the most games for any player to dominate in both key departments.
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At one point in the season he was second favourite for the Brownlow Medal.
However, despite the 24-year-old’s consistency and class, the AFL’s panel chose to back in usual suspects Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom from Collingwood and Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield at Coniglio’s expense.
Not one member of the AFL’s esteemed selection panel has any background in NSW and they were stormed on social media by accusations of Victorian bias and blindly picking big name players on reputation.
AFL great David King said he’s staggered Coniglio couldn’t even get a look-in for an extended squad of 40 players.
“He’s very unlucky. He’s averaging just short of 30 touches a week and now he’s hitting the scoreboard,” King told The Daily Telegraph.
“Kicking in excess of 20 goals, that’s the profile of a star midfielder. They’re numbers that most of his fellow types are not achieving.
“I don’t know what it’s about this guy that slips under the radar but to not be in the 40 is a bit of a shock to me.
“Pendlebury and Sidebottom, they’re always thereabouts (but) their numbers are not as good. Pendlebury is averaging just a tick over 30 (disposals), but he’s only kicked nine goals. There’s a big difference between nine and 21.
“I’m not necessarily saying replace all of these guys but you look at a Patrick Dangerfield and everyone throws him in every team they put forward. He’s averaging about the same number of possessions and kicked 24 goals yet he’s almost a walk-up start for all-Australian and unfortunately Stephen is not.”
Phil Davis also a controversial omission from the All-Australian squad, with Lachie Whitfield and Callan Ward GWS’s only representatives.
Critics in Melbourne are often quick to kick GWS when they’re down and unwilling to give praise for their success.
It remains to be seen how Leon Cameron fares in the coach of the year discussion given the job he has done with an injury-depleted roster.
King said All-Australian judges have forgotten the fact Coniglio stood up during the long patch where GWS were battling.
“I don’t think there’s a set against the Giants as such but I do believe there are a couple of others in there who haven’t had the season that Stephen has had,” said King.
“At one stage he was probably second or third favourite for the Brownlow.
“We’re probably overlooking when the team was struggling a little bit he was the shining light. I thought his form was really strong.”
Meanwhile, GWS have announced the recruitment of Matthew Nicks from Port Adelaide in the newly created position of senior assistant coach.