Stephen Coniglio Biography

Greater Western Sydney coach Adam Kingsley launches a staunch defence of Stephen Coniglio amid reports that his constant calls for free kicks led to the dissent decision going against him at a crucial time in the Giants' loss to Carlton.

"I know the rhetoric has been around it being a reaction to numerous events. I can tell you that is just complete rubbish," Kingsley said.

"When you look at 'Cogs' you're dealing with one of the most respected people in the AFL."

Toby Greene will lead the Giants as captain in 2023, with Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly to be vice-captains.

"I've come a long way and it took a long time, but I've done a lot of work on my leadership skills," Greene said.

"As a young kid I was probably nowhere near it and was trying to find my way in AFL footy but I'm in my twelfth season now and I've been here since the start.

"It's a massive honour and I'll be certainly putting all my time and effort into doing the best job I can."

Sam Taylor's sensational season for Greater Western Sydney has been capped off with his first Kevin Sheedy Medal as the Giants' club champion for 2022 in a glitzy awards ceremony.

Two days after claiming his first All-Australian blazer, the star defender's career-best campaign was given further recognition as he romped away to claim the honour with 156 votes, some 48 votes clear of co-captain Stephen Coniglio in second place.

"We've always known he's an incredibly hard-working and skilful player, but what he’s been able to achieve this season is nothing short of remarkable, particularly given the amount of work our backline had to do," Giants General Manager of Football Jason McCartney said..

Greater Western Sydney unveils a new-look leadership structure, with Toby Greene and Josh Kelly joining Stephen Coniglio as co-captains.

Stephen Coniglio faces an uphill battle to play again in 2021 as he deals with complications on his rebuilt toe.

"We gave him the two [VFL] games and then the third game it got stood on as well which didn't help. It's just an angry toe at the moment," GWS coach Leon Cameron said.

"One thing we will not be doing is rushing him if he's not right, that's not fair because it's a significant part of your body when you've got to run hard and run 15-16 kilometres a game. We have to make sure it's right for him to perform at his best."

Giants Stephen Coniglio, Phil Davis and Matt de Boer are facing lengthy stints on the sideline.

Coniglio will have ankle surgery on Thursday after scans revealed a syndesmosis injury and will be sidelined for at least eight weeks.

Davis is expected to miss six weeks with a serious calf injury, while de Boer will miss up to 10 with a significant hamstring injury.

Stephen Coniglio will remain skipper of the Giants in 2021 while Toby Greene has been elevated to the role of vice-captain.

Phil Davis, Jacob Hopper, Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly and Matt de Boer round out the club's leadership group.

"It's an honour to be vice-captain of a club that I love so much and that has given me so much in my life. Leadership is something I've worked really hard on developing. It's an area I want to continue to improve in," Greene said.

"I'm really proud to support 'Cogs' as our captain. We've got a really strong group that will drive us forward in 2021."

GWS coach Leon Cameron says the burden of captaincy took its toll on gun midfielder Stephen Coniglio in the Giants' difficult 2020 season.

"I think absorbing all that responsibility until you actually get in the role can be quite daunting and he'd be the first to admit that. Cogs had a lot on his plate and he probably had too much on his plate, which probably affected his footy," Cameron said.

"I just want him to get back to playing the footy that I know he can and I think he's going to be a fantastic captain.

"Myself and Cogs and our leadership group and a lot of our players that have stayed around Sydney have had some great dialogue about what we thought was right and what we thought we got probably wrong."

Stephen Coniglio is dropped from the Giants' round 17 senior side to face Melbourne at the Gabba following the team's loss to bottom-placed Adelaide in round 16.

"Stephen is the first to admit that his form hasn't been where he'd like it to be," GWS football manager Jason McCartney said.

"We see this as a speed bump in the road. He's a quality man and he'll bounce back. It's a sign of a strong football club that if people don't perform at all levels, you need to have hard conversations. He's an A-grade footballer, he's an A-grade person and we'll support him and he'll bounce back."

Stephen Coniglio recounts the drama that both he and teammate Toby Greene found themselves in last October during a visit to the San Siro in Italy to watch his beloved Juventus play.

"When people say don't wear opposition colours to a game in Italy, make sure you don't. As we were walking into the game, I had one (scarf) ripped off my neck and thrown into the crowd," Coniglio told the Greats with Garby podcast.

"(Higuain) scored the late winner and we quickly ran out, (but) no taxis would take us because Toby still had his scarf on. Before anyone saw us, we slipped a cab driver 20 extra euros to take us back to the town before anything happened.

"Next minute we're in the cab and maybe, maybe, maybe at some point the scarf went out the window. But the traffic coming out of the game, you're at a standstill. The poor cab driver had his mirrors taken off and I had spit all over me, because the cab driver was an Inter supporter and wouldn't put the window up in time. We almost had two broken windows to go with it as well. It was a scary, but funny moment."

Jaeger O'Meara says he was a 'sounding board' for his close friend Stephen Coniglio during the 2019 multi-club chase for the Giant and admits to fancying him as a Hawthorn teammate.

"We're obviously pretty tight. I was really keen for him to come across if he decided he want to leave the Giants, and we wanted to be the first ones to have a look at him," O'Meara said.

"We sat down numerous times over a coffee or a beer or whatever to talk about it, and it wasn't necessarily me trying to pester him. I was saying, 'If you need to chat about any of this, then give me a call'.

"At the end of the day, he was happy at the Giants. I think he's made the right decision for him and his family and got an incredible contract and one he thoroughly deserves."

Stephen Coniglio recounts his meeting with the late basketball megastar Kobe Bryant, revealing the remarkable lengths that the five-time NBA champion had gone to in researching the Greater Western Sydney captain before their catch-up.

Giants CEO Dave Matthews set up the meeting between Coniglio and Bryant in Newport Beach in Los Angeles in November last year, with the pair discussing the art of leadership during an enthralling 45-minute conversation.

"Mainly we were chatting about how I became captain. He was saying how he had to change his mentality and be more about the team than himself. He was saying that initially that was hard for him, but it actually benefited him and his game in the long run," Coniglio recalled.

"He was great. I walked in and didn't know what to expect, but straightaway he said: 'How's the knee? Congratulations on staying, I read you're Italian, I lived in Italy with my father'. Whether he researched that or his PA, it was just amazing."

GWS coach Leon Cameron says Stephen Coniglio will split his time between the midfield and forward duties in 2020.

"Coniglio's more your 50-50 or 60-40 (midfield-forward) because when he plays forward, we love what we see with him," Cameron said.

"He kicks goals, he's competitive, he wins one-on-ones and he's dangerous. His speed and his point of difference when he goes through the midfield is first class as well."

Stephen Coniglio will captain GWS in 2020 as part of a six-man leadership group.

The Giants won't have any vice-captains under Coniglio, instead entrusting Josh Kelly and Matt de Boer to support the star midfielder, along with newcomers Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield.

Phil Davis and Callan Ward have stepped away from the Giants' leadership group after eight seasons as co-captains of the club.

"We're very fortunate at the Giants to have some outstanding leaders and I'm really confident in the mix of players that will be supporting Stephen as on-field leaders," GWS footy boss Jason McCartney said.

Stephen Coniglio is officially unveiled as Greater Western Sydney's new captain after exiting skippers Phil Davis and Callan Ward handed him the baton during an off-season holiday weeks ago.

"It speaks volumes for the people they are, they were here from such a young age representing our playing group and setting high standards," Coniglio said of his former co-captains.

"For the boys to do the co-captaincy thing for as long as they did, there wouldn't be too many organisations where two guys can come together for that long and jell so well."

Coniglio becomes the club's first sole captain since the club entered the competition and says he wants to drive a winning culture at the Giants.

"As a captain and a player, that's why we're here. We're here to win," he said.

"We've been able to forge a really strong club and we've been to four finals series in a row, and we want success at this footy club.

"That’s really important to me, as is continuing the really strong culture we have."

Stephen Coniglio officially rules himself out of the 2019 Grand Final between his club, the Giants, and Richmond.

Coniglio has been on the sidelines since round 17 when he suffered a serious knee injury in the opening minutes of the loss to Richmond.

"This is a selfless decision by Stephen and typical of the man he is," GWS general manager of football Wayne Campbell said.

"He left it all on the training track today and ultimately he decided he doesn’t think he is capable of playing out the whole game and therefore didn’t want to let his teammates down."

Stephen Coniglio is awarded the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award for his outstanding contribution to the community.

Coniglio was recognized for his tireless work across a range of programs that involve the multicultural communities of western Sydney.

"Stephen is an outstanding role model and his passion and commitment for growing the game at all levels is truly impressive," AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said.

"His engagement with the diverse communities of western Sydney, along with the Giants and the team at AFL NSW/ACT, is to be commended.

Stephen Coniglio shuns offers from other clubs to sign a landmark seven-year with Greater Western Sydney.

It becomes the longest individual deal in Giants history and will keep him at the club until the end of 2026.

"This club has become home for me and in the end the culture and the opportunity are undeniable. I'm just thrilled to be a Giant for life and keen to continue on our path to becoming an even greater club," Coniglio said.

"Clearly I had a lot to weigh up given I was looking to make a long-term commitment. In the end the opportunity here at the Giants to do something unique with some incredible people was just too great to turn down."

Giants coach Leon Cameron says isn't comfortable with clubs chatting to Stephen Coniglio in-season but knows it's part of the industry.

"It's a disappointing part of the AFL system because you're actually in-season, but equally there's pretty much no other way (to do it)," Cameron said.

Cameron said Coniglio had spoken to him about the Clarkson rendezvous and his dealings with the GWS vice-captain have continued to be positive.

"We've answered in a very honest way about how Stephen was feeling every week and I don't see anything different (with him), he's been terrific," Cameron said.

"I'm confident it's going to go our way in the coming weeks."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has revealed he has met with GWS star Stephen Coniglio in a bid to lure him to Waverley Park.

"If he decides to leave GWS, we'd like to be at the front of the queue if we could possibly get there," Clarkson said.

"We want to try and compete with Geelong and Carlton and whoever else who might be in the scheme of things for Cogs, because he's a special player."

Free agent Stephen Coniglio has been linked to Carlton and Blues superstar Patrick Cripps says he would love to play alongside him.

"It's one of those things. Anyone would be rapt to have Stephen Coniglio come to your door. He's a sensational player, so if he did come I'd be over the moon," Cripps said.

"But we'll see how that all pans out."

Giants coach Leon Cameron says Greater Western Sydney medical staff are not to blame for Stephen Coniglio's potentially season-ending injury.

Coniglio lasted less than five minutes against Richmond at the MCG before the knee gave way in an innocuous incident, prompting some commentators to question whether he should have been playing in the first place.

"When a guy trains fully in the main session, he's cleared by the surgeon, cleared by the scans, and you ask him four or five times 'are you ready to go?' They're the cold hard facts," Cameron said.

"I thought it was really disappointing that people were having a crack at our medical staff when really they didn't have the facts."

Stephen Coniglio escapes an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but will still require arthroscopic surgery to fix damaged cartilage on his knee which will sideline him for eight weeks.

2019's most sought-after free agent Stephen Coniglio will need to weigh up interest from three different states with Fremantle declaring it is entering the race to bring him home.

"He's at a good club, but as a young West Australian free agent it'd be negligent if I didn't have a coffee with (Coniglio's agent) Tom Petroro," Dockers CEO Steve Rosich said.

Greater Western Sydney will be led by co-captains Phil Davis and Callan Ward for the eighth consecutive season as the club announced an unchanged leadership group for 2019.

Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly will again be vice-captains, while Matt de Boer is the final member of the group.

"What that process demonstrated for us is that we have a number of outstanding leaders at our club both in official leadership positions as well as across our entire playing group," Giants football manager Wayne Campbell said.

On the eve of his 100th game, Stephen Coniglio explains how he has come to be considered the 'spiritual leader' and the 'heart and soul' of the Giants.

"In terms of my leadership, my favourite part about it is helping the guys get better, it's all about giving back," he said.

"Care and empathy goes a long way, particularly in our game where it is so hard both on and off the field, and it can get draining.

"I've been very privileged to have that sort of upbringing, not only thanks to my mum and dad who have been the biggest influences in my life, but with my grandparents on both sides."

Matt de Boer's remarkable career renaissance after being elevated into a new-look leadership group at Greater Western Sydney.

The Giants will again be led by co-captains Callan Ward and Phil Davis, who continue in the role for the seventh straight year, with vice-captain Stephen Coniglio joined by star midfielder Josh Kelly as a deputy.

All Australian Dylan Shiel was voted into the group again, but opted to step away from his leadership duties, while veteran defender Heath Shaw also made way.

Stephen Coniglio will make his comeback from a second ankle setback via the NEAFL this week.

"After the extended time I had off, I was in a head space this week of purely wanting to get back and play football. It was a coaching decision for me to go through the NEAFL," Coniglio said.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back on the park and I've given myself the best preparation. Whether it's one week or two weeks in the NEAFL, I'm thankful to be out there."

Stephen Coniglio will miss at least the next 10 weeks with another ankle injury.

Coniglio went down late in the Giants' thrilling three-point win over Collingwood when he kicked the leg of Magpies forward Darcy Moore, and had surgery to fix a syndesmosis injury.

It's a blow for the vice-captain, who was playing just his second game of the year after rolling the same left ankle in the final JLT Community Series game against North Melbourne.

"The damage to Stephen's ankle is significantly worse than the previous injury so he'll undergo surgery before commencing a thorough rehabilitation program," GWS head of athletic performance David Joyce said.

Stephen Coniglio will miss six weeks after twisting his left ankle in a tackle by North Melbourne's Andrew Swallow in Canberra during the pre-season.

“We're obviously disappointed for Stephen after he put in a really strong pre-season,” GWS head of athletic performance David Joyce said.

“He'll spend the next two weeks in a protective boot and progress from there."

Toby Greene caps off a breakout season in 2016 by winning the Kevin Sheedy Medal as Greater Western Sydney's player of the year.

Greene averaged 21.3 possessions per game playing as a high half-forward, kicked 44 goals, was ranked equal second in the League for goal assists, and third for inside 50s during the regular season.

The 23-year-old finished a thrilling count just three votes ahead of wingman Tom Scully, with fellow onballer Stephen Coniglio third.

"I honestly can't believe I've won this medal," Greene said.

"It's such a privilege to be named amongst the best players that this club has got is such an honour."

Stephen Coniglio signs a contract extension with GWS that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

"The future of the playing group, I think that would be the main thing for me," Coniglio said.

"Deep down I know that we have the group to do it [win a premiership]."

Stephen Coniglio signs a two-year extension with GWS that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

"Having been at the Giants since the start and seeing where we are headed, I had no hesitation in re-signing," Coniglio said.

"I enjoy living in Sydney and playing football with a committed and hard working group of footballers, who are also my some of my closest friends.

"Together we've worked hard and battled through some tough times over the past five years and I want to be part of the success that is hopefully ahead of us."

Callan Ward and key defender Phil Davis will co-captain GWS for a fifth-straight season, but Shane Mumford and Tom Scully have made way for four new additions to the group.

Reigning club champion Heath Shaw will again support Ward and Davis, who have shared the skipper's role since the Giants entered the competition in 2012.

Gun midfielders Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith, and defender Matt Buntine, all 22-year-old Giants' 'originals', have been given a spot on the leadership team for the first time.

"We've had young guys who have been doing leadership stuff for four years that they've been here and they're ready to step in," Ward said.

"We didn't want the group too large, and seven is the perfect number for us.

"We've got four fifth-year players who are terrific leaders, terrific men; that's what we're about at this football club, great men and great people so I think it's really good signs for us.

"They'll fill the shoes really well."

Rhys Palmer celebrates a goal during the Giants' NAB Challenge match against the Bulldogs by planting a kiss on teammate's Stephen Coniglio's cheek.

"We're pretty close, it wasn't something that was premeditated. We probably got caught up in the moment a little bit," Palmer said.

"We sort of greet each other with a kiss every morning we see each other at the club, and that probably got taken into the game.

"There's a bit of European in both of us so I guess that's where we get in from."

The AFL's Multicultural Program will expand to 18 player ambassadors in 2016 and will also include two female players.

Sabrina Frederick-Traub and Darcy Vescio will be joined in promoting some of the many diverse backgrounds in Australia’s Game by Brisbane Lions Vice Captain Dayne Zorko, Geelong’s Tom Hawkins, Fremantle’s Tendai Mzundu, Gold Coast SUNS players Adam Saad and Tom Nicholls, Sydney Swan Aliir Aliir and Western Bulldogs player Jason Johannisen.

The new additions in 2016 join existing Australia Post AFL Multicultural Player Ambassadors David Zaharakis (Essendon), Stephen Coniglio (GWS GIANTS), Paul Puopolo (Hawthorn), Shem Tatupu (Hawthorn), Alipate Carlile (Port Adelaide), Jimmy Toumpas (Port Adelaide), Bachar Houli (Richmond), Nic Naitanui (West Coast) and Lin Jong (Western Bulldogs).

“The expanded list of 18 ambassadors, representing 13 AFL Clubs and two female Clubs, will play a crucial role in raising cultural understanding, inclusion and participation at all levels of Australian Football,” AFL General Manager Game and Market Development Simon Lethlean said.

Greater Western Sydney chief executive Dave Matthews has launched a scathing attack on the one-week suspension handed to Essendon's Adam Cooney for his bump on Giant Stephen Coniglio.

With less than five minutes to play in last week's match at Spotless Stadium, and with GWS leading by 33 points, the Bomber charged off the centre square and clashed with Coniglio, who was left dazed for several minutes.

"Quite simply, what (Adam) Cooney did to (Stephen) Coniglio is unacceptable, and if you want to send that message then it's got to be more than one week," Matthews said.

The young Giant was helped from the field by medical staff and will miss this week's crucial clash against Port Adelaide on Saturday.

"I didn't like it, the game is tougher than it's ever been, but there's no room for that.

"Stephen Coniglio (is) a real ball player and it was even more necessary given the state of the game.

"When I was told that it was a one-week penalty I thought it was a joke, I thought someone was having a lend of me.

"That is significant unders."

Stephen Coniglio signs a two-year deal with GWS that will keep him at the club until the end of 2017.

"From the start I was really honest with the Giants and my manager, I didn't want to speak to any other clubs or hear about any other offers, I wanted to stay at the Giants," Coniglio said.

"At the start of the year the main thing I had to weigh up was whether or not there was a spot for me and if I was in our best 22, and that was my thinking throughout the whole process.

"I've been pretty comfortable with where I've been at all year. Firstly I wanted to get my spot in the team, and then consistently perform, which I've been able to do so far.

"It's good news and hopefully a positive one for the club."

Stephen Coniglio is hopeful of signing a new contract this year to remain with the Giants.

"It will play itself out," Coniglio said.

"I'm loving Sydney at the moment and I can't see myself leaving the club. I'm really excited about what's to come in the next few years."

Stephen Coniglio expects to be out for the season after undergoing surgery for a thumb that he broke against Adelaide.

"I think my season is over. I had an operation on Friday night and I think that will be it for the year," Coniglio said.

Stephen Coniglio may miss at least six weeks and the rest of the season after having surgery for a broken thumb.

Being a better inside player is a goal that Stephen Coniglio has set for himself and the rest of the GWS midfield in 2014 following the departures of Taylor Adams and Dom Tyson.

"You've got to win the hard ball first before you can do anything and this year that'll be one of my goals, to make sure I get better at that," Coniglio said.

"Losing Dom Tyson, who was an inside specialist, and Taylor Adams, who loves the grunt and loves being inside, we need to take it to the next level.

"Another year in the gym, we'll be physically stronger and won't be pushed over as easily as some of our midfielders probably have been in our first two years."

Jobe Watson joins Demon Jimmy Toumpas, Magpie Patrick Karnezis, Giant Stephen Coniglio, and Lin Jong from the Western Bulldogs as new multicultural ambassadors in 2014 to help grow the game alongside existing ambassadors Nic Naitanui, Bachar Houli, Karmichael Hunt, Majak Daw, and Alipate Carlile.

"Since the introduction of the AFL multicultural ambassador program in 2012, we are delighted by the enthusiasm, insight and cultural guidance the ambassadors have provided to communities and the AFL industry," AFL chief Andrew Demetriou said.

"In 2014, we are excited to have Jobe, Jimmy, Patrick, Stephen and Lin as part of this important program and look forward to the 10 ambassadors playing a lead role in encouraging individuals and communities to unite through their passion for Australia's game."

Stephen Coniglio makes an immediate impact in his return to the seniors as a substitute for GWS after being dropped from the side and sustaining a hamstring injury.

"It was a testing time for me personally. I'd never been dropped before," Coniglio said.

"But the coaches were really supportive and they needed better standards from me and I was rightly dropped."

Before being drafted by GWS, Stephen Coniglio was unsure about moving to Sydney, but says he has since grown to love it.

"I'd been to Sydney a couple of times prior to moving over and the first time I wasn't 100 per cent sure," Coniglio said.

"I was too young and there wasn't any AFL going on.

"But over last summer I fell in love with the place and hence why a lot of guys have re-committed to the club.

"Not only am I excited about the team, but Sydney's a great place to live and grow the game of AFL."

Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene, Steve Coniglio and Adam Treloar are among eight re-signings for Greater Western Sydney.

"It's a young club, plenty of run, and I just love the boys around the club and we're building something really big for the future," Cameron said.

"I'm really confident going forward that if we can all stay together, we'll be a very successful club," Coniglio added.

Stephen Coniglio will miss the Giants' next four matches after surgery to his injured thumb.

"Stephen has had an excellent season so far and is one of four Giants players who've already been nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star," GWS football manager Graeme Allan said.

"We look forward to him making a full recovery and being available to return to the side later next month."

Stephen Coniglio a nomination for NAB Rising Star award after tallying 31 disposals, 6 marks and a goal in the Giants' maiden victory against Gold Coast.

"Stephen's nomination is reward for an outstanding game in our first win on Saturday and an excellent season so far," GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said.

"He and our other young midfielders such as Toby Greene, Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith have shown tremendous consistency and maturity for their age and experience."

Stephen Coniglio makes his AFL debut for GWS at Stadium Australia with 17 disposals (6 kicks and 11 handballs), 3 marks and a tackle in a 63-point loss to Sydney.

Stephen Coniglio isn't fazed about missing out on the No. 1 pick to Jonathon Patton.

"It would have been fantastic to go number one but Jon deserves it and he is a fantastic player. I wasn't disappointed but I wasn't relieved, it was just a feeling that I'm blessed and grateful to be here in the top five," Coniglio said.

"My initial thoughts were that if I get an opportunity to play AFL footy, I've always been one to believe that if you get an opportunity grab it with both hands."