Stephen Coniglio on his Italian upbringing and how it’s helped turned the Giants into a family

THE Giants were whacked by 113 points the first time Stephen Coniglio went home to WA to play Fremantle, but it started a tradition that has helped turn GWS into his extended family.

Stephen Coniglio with mum Jane and dad Sandro. Picture: Stephen Coniglio/Instagram

Family is number one for me.

Always has been always will be.

I’m part of a big family — my dad Sandro is from Italy and mum Jane is from England.

They migrated to Perth in the 1960s and had four kids.

I was only 17 when I left home to play for the GIANTS.

I moved from one side of the country to the other on my own and the footy club had to become my family.

In our first few years we were getting flogged every week by 100 points or more. There were some high points but they were few and far between. We were young kids trying to figure out how to play together at the highest level.

It’s almost four years ago now that we headed back to my hometown to take on Fremantle in Round 20, 2013. On the night before the game my parents invited the whole team over for a family dinner.

The team, coaches, support staff, board — there was almost 40 people crammed onto plastic chairs and tables in our backyard.

That was one of the high points, everyone sharing a meal together as a family, introducing my footy family to the way I’d grown up. That night was followed by the Dockers’ biggest win in their history as they thumped us by 113 points.

But that night started a tradition and whenever possible, anyone and everyone from the club is invited over for dinner at our family home whenever we’re back in Perth.

It’s an Italian way of life to share and do things for others, particularly when it comes to cooking and eating. It’s something my Nonna taught me growing up and I’ve never forgotten it.

The Italian focus on family is something I’ve brought to the Giants. We’re the most unique club in the AFL — a group of boys, all the same age, brought together to start a brand new club and create history.

Everyone says a footy club is like family, but we really are family. Like one big Italian family. Regardless of what happened on the footy field early on, we always looked forward to those meals together.

Now, we’re sitting third on the AFL ladder but we’ve certainly had our challenges this year. A dip in form and a ridiculous run of injuries haven’t helped.

I’ve been sitting on the sidelines for most of the season but I’ll be back in the side this week, finally, to take on Fremantle again.

As we get set to meet the Dockers again, we know that now is the time to coming together, like we have before over those dinners in Perth and like those family dinners I loved so much with my Nonna.

Originally published as Stephen Coniglio on his Italian upbringing and how it’s helped turned the Giants into a family