The GWS Giants have dropped a selection bombshell on the eve of their all-important encounter with the Demons, axing Stephen Coniglio in response to the skipper's lacklustre form.
The shock call from Giants coach Leon Cameron comes in the wake of Tuesday's dire loss to bottom-placed Adelaide, with last year's runners-up now at risk of falling out of the top eight should they lose to Melbourne on Saturday.
Since adopting the captaincy from foundational leaders Phil Davis and Callan Ward this year, Coniglio's struggles have been evident amongst that of a team that has failed to fire since the AFL's COVID-19 lockdown.
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GWS now found themselves at risk of missing the finals for the first time since 2015, sitting in eighth with two rounds of the home and away season to play and level on points with the ninth-placed Bulldogs.
Coniglio was amongst a superstar midfield group singled out by Cameron after the loss to the Crows, in which the newly-appointed skipper's 20-touch performance wasn't enough to satisfy the coach.
And in arguably the biggest selection call of the season, Cameron has made the bold decision to dump his under-performing skipper.
“Stephen is the first to admit that his form hasn’t been where he’d like it to be,” said Giants football manager Jason McCartney.
“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.
“Our focus now goes onto Saturday night and Melbourne and how we can beat them.”
Fox Footy's Tom Morris reports the intention initially was to rest Coniglio, however the star midfielder conceded his form wasn't acceptable and insisted on being omitted.
Absurd decision to drop Stephen Coniglio, even if his form has been well below his best. Way too late to use the captain as a scapegoat. Been many worse than him, reeks of desperation
— Adam Curley (@AdamCurleyMedia) September 11, 2020
The 26-year-old inked one of the AFL's most lucrative contracts when he agreed to a seven-year deal worth close to $1 million a season to remain loyal to the Giants over the off-season, despite the lure of offers from Hawthorn and Carlton.
However, Coniglio's struggles since accepting the captaincy and securing his long-term future with the Giants have been clear cut.
While in a shortened season the West Australian's numbers are only slightly down on last year's, Champion Data ranks Coniglio 64th from the 75 midfielders to have featured in five or more games this season.
He currently ranks 70th in the league for score involvements, where in 2018 the superstar on-baller ranked 10th.
Coniglio hasn't been the only Giants big name to have under-performed in 2020, superstar full-forward Jeremy Cameron also struggling this season after claiming last year's Coleman Medal.
Applauding Cameron's bold move to axe Coniglio, Melbourne great Garry Lyon declared it was expected to put the likes of Cameron on notice ahead of a make or break two games for the Giants.
“That’s a statement from Leon Cameron,” Lyon said on SEN. “I thought Stephen Coniglio was one of the best young leaders. Well he is, but it doesn’t make you immune from a form slump.
“When it’s from the top down and your leader is dropped, then it does sharpen everyone else from the top down.
“It’s a really gutsy, brave move. The bottom line is, it will all depend on what happens in the next two weeks. That’s why it’s gutsy.
Has Stephen Coniglio's form really been that bad?
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) September 10, 2020
He's averaging 97 ranking points (only 4 less than last year - which included a 0).
Also averaging 21 disposals, 2.5 marks, 4 tackles and 4 clearances.
Surely that's best 22 in a game you simply must win?
“Leon Cameron and his (coaching) group would know that team and how they’ve been playing much better than we do and what he asks of his players much better than anyone else in the footy world would do.
“If that’s what he sees then good on him for having the courage to do it.
“No one is assured of a game at GWS right now. Seven years he (Coniglio) recommitted to at around $7 million, is the report, but you’ve got to still deliver otherwise you are not guaranteed a spot.”
