The Giant who Cornes believes should seek a “fresh environment” in 2025

Kane Cornes has questioned the nature of former GWS captain Stephen Coniglio, debating his future following a difficult season with the Giants.

Coniglio had a tough run in 2024, managing just 15 games amidst a whirlwind of injury concerns, amounting 20 disposals and four clearances per game.

Unable to hit a run of form at the Giants, despite a brilliant 2023 campaign, Cornes believes it might be time for the 30-year-old to ponder new beginnings

“If I was Stephen Coniglio, is it time to have a look around?,” Cornes told AFL Trade Radio.

“He is from Perth, I’m not sure whether West Coast would be interested in that, and his contract situation has a long time left (until 2026) at the Giants on big money.

“Is he going to get the best out of his last four years at AFL level at the Giants?

“It’s been a pretty brutal time for him, he’s been through the captaincy, the axing when he was captain, taking the captaincy off him, to playing some pretty good footy, to having injuries left right and centre this year.

“He looked like a broken man at the end of the season, and I get most of that was around his body and the frustration around that.

“Does he need a change of club and a fresh start? If I was Stephen Coniglio, would you entertain perhaps a fresh environment?”

The veteran has managed 217 games for the Giants, picking up an All-Australian 44-man squad selection in 2023 to go with two runner-ups in the best and fairest award in 2022 and 2023.