GWS will draw on resilience exhibited throughout a 10-week stretch away from home as they plot another high-stakes AFL boilover to rival that of the 2019 preliminary final.
The Giants, reeling from superstar Toby Greene’s season-ending suspension, sit a distant sixth in bookmakers’ ranking of the remaining premiership contenders.
They will tackle Geelong in Friday’s semi-final without Greene, who regularly offers headline fodder but hasn’t been the subject of such intense public debate since his one-game ban in the 2019 finals series.
GWS rallied on that occasion, upsetting Collingwood by four points to earn a place in a grand final they were ultimately outclassed in.
Captain Stephen Coniglio, who missed the entire 2019 finals series, says his club has repeatedly proven its capacity to dig deep this year after a horror 2020.
Coniglio admitted the enforced absence of “our best player all season” was a blow but noted GWS, who landed in Perth on Tuesday night after a long commute from the north coast of Tasmania, have reset focus on securing their maiden flag without Greene.
“The whole season for us has been one of facing a lot of adversity, whether it be through injury, suspension … we’ve been on the road for 10 weeks,” Coniglio said.
“We’ve found energy off that and really, as our last five weeks since the Port Adelaide game has shown, we’re just loving whatever is thrown at us.
“Doing it the hard way so to speak, but for us it’s not really (viewed as) hard.
“Seeing what we couldn’t do last year, compared to what we’re doing now, is really special.”
Coniglio added GWS would draw inspiration from the round-21 win in Geelong achieved by a “very undermanned side”.
“Our last few weeks have been phenomenal,” he said.
“We’ll be full of confidence … they’re a strong, very experienced outfit who have been in finals before but so have we.”
It has been another frustrating season for the midfielder, who has battled ankle and toe injures but returned to the Giants’ starting team in Saturday’s thrilling elimination final.
Coniglio, who had 11 disposals in the derby, is one of several players likely to be tasked with filling the forward-line void left by Greene.
“Definitely better for the run … the body feels really good,” Coniglio said.
“It’s not about going out there and getting 30 touches … the midfield boys are playing some fantastic footy.”
Coniglio rubbished trade speculation about him.
“I made a massive commitment to the club and nothing changes on my end,” he said.
“I love the club”.
Coniglio said he is keen to end ex-teammate Jeremy Cameron’s season, also expressing confidence that 35-year-old ruckman Shane Mumford would back up.
“Shane loves big games, loves finals and loves facing his old sides as well,” Coniglio said.
AAP
