GWS holds no fear of taking down Geelong on Friday night even without Toby Greene

They’ve been on the road for 10 weeks and lost their best player, but there’s something special driving the GWS Giants in the finals.

Stephen Coniglio loves playing in the big games. Picture: Steve Bell/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Veteran GWS ruckman Shane Mumford won’t miss a chance to “end” Geelong’s season this Friday night in Perth as captain Stephen Coniglio revealed his team’s road map to success without Toby Greene.

Coniglio didn’t play the last time the Giants entered a final without Greene, the 2019 preliminary final, and has faced an uphill battle himself to get back for this year’s campaign.

Injuries have limited the skipper to just six games in 2021, and after being reintroduced as the medical sub in round 23, Coniglio had 11 disposals in last week’s one-point elimination final win over Sydney.

After missing his team’s run to the 2019 grand final, Coniglio said playing finals this season was driving him to contribute whatever he could for his team, and he was “better for the run” last week and primed to deliver more against the Cats.

“It’s not about going out there and getting 30 touches, it’s about going out and playing your role, doing the little things that impact the group,” he said on Wednesday.

“That’s been my whole thinking over the last six weeks, what can I contribute to the team. My usual role, the midfield boys are humming and playing some fantastic footy.

GWS Giants' Shane Mumford has gone to extra lengths for his recovery. Picture: Supplied

“(Finals) was a huge personal motivation for me six weeks ago. When I did come back from my injury, then had a little bit of a hiccup, getting back to the finals was a massive driving force.

“The home and away season is so important, but even just being out there last week, listening to the national anthem, playing in those really big games, you crave it.”

Despite losing Greene to suspension, and a lengthy injury list that also includes young star Tom Green, Coniglio said GWS would be full of confidence after taking down the Cats in round 21 with a similarly undermanned team.

“It’s a different scenario being over here in Perth, different teams, but our last few weeks have been phenomenal,” he said.

“We‘ll be full of confidence … they’re a strong, very experienced outfit who have been in finals before but so have we. ”

Coniglio said he was keen to end ex-teammate and now Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron‘s season, which would also be front of mind for 35-year-old ruckman Shane Mumford, a former Cat.

Mumford has struggled to play back-to-back games in 2021, but Coniglio said he wouldn’t miss this one.

“With Shane it depends what day you ask him. He usually rules himself out early in the week out then wills himself to get up,” Coniglio said.

“Shane loves big games, loves finals and loves facing his old sides as well,” Coniglio said.

“Jez (Cameron) is one of our best ever players, but come Friday night we want to end his season.”

Originally published as GWS holds no fear of taking down Geelong on Friday night even without Toby Greene