AFL veteran Stephen Coniglio details ongoing mystery health issue
A glute issue originally thought to put Coniglio out for just one week has kept the star onballer missing from action since Round 3.
It is a frustrating setback for the 31-year-old, who had been rediscovering his form after facial surgery and a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season.
'It was our West Coast game (in Round 4) and I just woke up like any other morning, just preparing to come to captain's run, and I just couldn't walk,' Coniglio said on Monday.
'I felt this pain shooting down my leg ... I just pulled out of that game, disappointing, just thinking a couple of days it'll settle.
'As it's gone on, it's moved from my glute down my hamstring.
'It's been a bit of trial and error, but it's a nerve issue that's bothering me.
'I tried a couple of injections that, again, hadn't seemed to work initially. We're trying a few other things at the moment.'
Coniglio's return has been pushed back to their Round 14 fixture against Brisbane, but he admits the timeline isn't certain.
The time away from the game has at least given Coniglio more confidence in his shoulder and face, the inaugural Giant insisting he still has more to give.
'I'm over 30 now, so everyone's pointing to maybe it could be that, but I'm feeling 24, 25 again after having not played a lot for the last year,' he said.
'Last year, dealing with the two operations gave me some really good mental perspective on how lucky I am and how grateful I am to play this game.
'I'm very confident in my own ability and that I'll be back playing my best very soon. I love the game so much.'
Coniglio is joined on the sidelines by Finn Callaghan (shoulder), Brent Daniels (abdominal) and Josh Kelly (hip).
But their thin midfield stocks haven't got in the way of the Giants' flag campaign, with coach Adam Kingsley's men returning to the winners' circle with a 28-point win over Carlton.
It was milestone man Toby Greene, in his 250th game, who led the way in the midfield to help the Giants make amends for a lacklustre loss to Fremantle the previous week.
GWS return home to host Richmond at Engie Stadium in the club's Cultural Heritage Series fixture, a cultural festival in celebration of the diverse cultures of Western Sydney.
'There's no better place than here in Western Sydney to showcase that,' Coniglio said.
'Yes, we're trying to win games of football, but we're also trying to build the club.
'(We're) not just trying to get players from a multicultural background, but engage with fans from a multicultural background.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Incoming AFL operations boss Greg Swann foreshadows more transparency in major change to MRO
AFL match review officer Michael Christian will front more media scrutiny and provide greater public transparency on his decisions under the new footy department regime that Greg Swann is days away from leading. Outgoing Brisbane CEO Swann oversaw the last win of his Lions tenure on Friday night, copping a celebratory Gatorade shower from the players during the team song after his side beat the Western Bulldogs in a 10-point thriller at the Gabba. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Michael Christian set to provide more transparency under Greg Swann. From Monday, after almost three decades of administration at club level which has spanned stints at Carlton, Collingwood and Brisbane, Swann will begin life as an AFL executive. The 63-year-old was headhunted by AFL CEO Andrew Dillon to lead football operations, a portfolio which is already bursting with a long list of pressing to-do items. Chief among them is arguably the match review officer's role and directives, which are certain to change under Swann, who says there should be more public clarity around decisions made in the AFL judicial system. In an expansive and insightful chat with Channel 7 inside the Brisbane rooms after his final game at the Lions, Swann said he thinks the game is in good order generally speaking, but flagged a number of small changes coming, including with the MRO. 'I think the game's in fantastic health, I just think there are a few tweaks that we need, and hopefully we can get that done and we'll go from there,' he said. 'I want to go around and talk to the clubs and just see what people think. 'One of the things I think we also should do is actually explain why we get to a decision that we get to — I don't see any reason why we shouldn't do that. 'Michael Christian might have a bit more of a role in the media to explain how he's got to certain decisions. That's something that I think we should do and just be more transparent and put it out there.' Match lengths in 2025 have consistently been ballooning out towards, and even beyond, 130 minutes due to the number of stoppages throughout the game. Swann said he wants to tighten that back up. 'We wait too long for people to set up,' he said, as an example of why games are going so long. 'Even from a ruckman point of view, if there are enough people around the stoppage, just ball it up and get on with it. I think that's a thing we need to look at. 'And that might be able to be changed relatively quickly, so we'll see.' Also somewhere on his agenda will be the functioning of academies and father-son draft rules. Coming from a northern club like Brisbane, Swann knows the importance of having the academies, he said, so their role in the talent pathways system going forward is without question — despite the frustrations of some Victorian clubs. But Swann admitted the incoming changes to the drafting and points system — changes that pre-date his start date — are necessary. 'If the whole competition decided that that wasn't a good idea then you'd have a look at that, but I think most of the clubs want to keep that,' Swann said of the father-son rule, on the same day that potential 2026 No.1 draft pick Cody Walker, son of Carlton great Andrew, nominated the Blues as a father-son. 'As far as the academies go, there's a new system in place this year from a points perspective, so it's going to be harder for the clubs to get their players, so I think that needs to play out for the next year or two and see what that does. 'Having lived through it, the academies are really important to get guys and girls to play up here. We're in a big battle with the NRL and rugby union. 'But it is fair to say that the price that clubs have paid in the last few years hasn't been high enough, but this new system will make it so.' Across a chat that went for almost 10 minutes in all, Swann also said he wants to survey every club about the sub rule, and confirmed he is not a fan of umpires bouncing the ball at centre square restarts. And while change is doubtless under Swann, he said given he is coming into the role at this late stage of the season, it won't all come straight away, and won't necessarily be wholesale when it does.
ABC News
7 hours ago
- ABC News
AFL round 19 live updates: Lions vs Bulldogs at the Gabba - blog, scores, stats
It's a Friday night blockbuster at a wet Gabba, as the Brisbane Lions look to hold their top two position, and the Western Bulldogs try for a rare win over finals rivals as they fight for a spot in September. Heavy rain and storms in Brisbane will make for interesting conditions for a game that will help shape the finals race. The Bulldogs are sitting just outside the top eight, and they have to start beating some of their finals rivals to have a shot at qualifying for September. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
The Australian
7 hours ago
- The Australian
Wallabies must lift to cover for absence of Rob Valetini
Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson says Australia's entire forward pack must lift in the absence of star back-rower Rob Valetini if his team is to have any chance of beating the British and Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night. The inability of two-time John Eales Medal winner Valetini to overcome a calf problem in time for the series opener in Brisbane is a huge blow to Australia's hopes of upsetting the heavily fancied tourist. However, No.8 Wilson said an increased contribution from himself and every other Wallabies forward could make up for the unavailability of Valetini. The loss of two-time John Eales Medal winner Rob Valetini is a blow for the Wallabies. Picture:for Rugby Australia ''Bobby' is a massive loss,' Wilson said. 'He's been one of the form players in world rugby for quite a long period now. 'The thing with 'Bobby' is he takes the tough carries for us week in, week out, It's something you don't take for granted, but you just appreciate a bloke that can take on two or three people and get you front-foot ball. 'The whole forward pack, we've got to really step up because when you're missing a player like him, it's not ideal, but if everyone picks up that little 10 per cent, it makes up for it, which is very exciting.' In the ongoing absence of Valetini, and with Langi Gleeson also injured, flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny will make his Test debut at the age of 29. 'The thing about Nick is it's his first Test, he's got that excitement and all week he's trained the house down,' Wilson said. 'He's a big, physical man, and he wants to impose himself on the opposition. We've really enjoyed having him in camp, and we can't wait to see him go out there and do his job.' Wilson will have a similar goal of doing his primary 'job' as a player rather than becoming consumed with the captaincy role. Wallabies captain Harry Wilson (right) and British and Irish Lions skipper Maro Itoje are ready for Saturday night's Test at Suncorp Stadium. Picture:'Being able to captain your country is one of the biggest honours you could ever have It's something I'll never take for granted … but the thing which is nice about captaining this team is I'm not doing it alone,' he said. 'I've got some many other leaders in this team who have really helped me out. We really are a unit and I'm just the one here speaking. 'My main job is to play good Test foot for Australia. That's all (Wallabies coach) Joe (Schmidt) has ever asked me to do, to try to perform and do my job. 'If I get named captain, it's a massive honour, and if not, I just want to play footy. 'I've just always wanted to be a Wallaby. To me, the biggest honour you can get is playing for your country and pulling on the gold jersey.' Read related topics: Suncorp Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde
