"Tough conversation": The Giant midfielder King believes must be questioned

The GWS Giants must ask difficult questions of their midfield mix following a fourth quarter collapse in their Qualifying Final loss to the Swans.

Despite falling just a goal short of an impressive result against the minor premiers, the Swans’ dominance in the final term requires addressing, as the Giants went -8 in the clearance battle in the term alone to set up a heartbreaking defeat.

SEN’s David King believes that among those questions must be a note on 30-year-old Stephen Coniglio.

Coniglio has battled with a shoulder injury throughout 2024, managing just 14 games throughout the season, and despite being fit to play, King believes his recent few weeks since returning from injury have not been up to standard.

“They have got a big discussion to have there (around Coniglio)”, King told SEN’s Whateley.

“I’ve watched him closely in the past two weeks, in Ballarat and obviously on the weekend.

“He’s clearly playing impacted by that shoulder (injury), and it’s honourable that he’s playing this way, but they need to have a chat.

“You can’t be frontline in a centre bounce clearance if he’s not prepared to put his body on the line. Four contested possessions on the weekend but he was always avoiding contact.

“I’m not sure that is going to pay the bills the closer we get to the big one.”

Against the Swans, Coniglio picked up 14 disposals at just 57 per cent efficiency, and despite heavy midfield minutes, just four contested touches and two clearances.

“We always talk about preliminary integrity, from the start of the season to the end,” King continued.

“You can’t carry that type of action, that type of protection mechanism into a big final as a clearance player, as a midfielder.

“I’m not necessarily saying you can’t play him, but at a minimum, you can’t play him in that role.

“They have a tough conversation to have with him – ‘can you do this or not?’

“If he says yes, say ‘well you’ve got to do it, because we’ve got other players that can go and play that role’.

“They are stacked for talent, but he needs to deliver upon that, and he didn’t on the weekend, and he probably didn't the week before.

“I think there is a big conversation there for the coach to have with Stephen Coniglio.”

It will be a big week on the track for Coniglio and the Giants as they prepare for an all-or-nothing Semi-Final clash with the Brisbane Lions this Saturday night.