With news that GWS captain Stephen Coniglio has been dropped, Garry Lyon and Tim Watson have weighed in on the shock move by Giants coach Leon Cameron.
The Giants skipper has been omitted for Saturday night’s must-win clash with Melbourne, prompting plenty of discussion on SEN Breakfast.
Watson said: “Is that a statement or what?
“That’s explosive and if he (Cameron) wants a reaction and wants to shake up his team, that’s going to do it for sure.
“That’s not just a waking up in the morning and reacting to somebody and what they can’t do. That’s something that you’ve been thinking about as a coaching staff for a period of time.
“That is massive, massive news. Your captain, your leader. Right now, what do they need?”
Lyon replied: “Leadership.”
Watson: “Exactly. You’ve got (former co-captain) Phil Davis sitting on the sidelines, he’s not going to come back this year.
“Now you’ve dropped your skipper for a super important game too.”
Lyon added: “Wow, that’s a statement from Leon Cameron.
“If this was a Collingwood or an Essendon or a Carlton, this would just blow up.
“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.
“I wonder what it will do to this team. I tell you what it does, it will sharpen everyone else up.
“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.
“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.
“There’s players like Jeremy Cameron now that would be sitting up and taking notice of that because his form has been down.
“No one is assured of a game at GWS right now. Seven years he recommitted to at around $7 million, is the report, but you’ve got to still deliver otherwise you are not guaranteed a spot.”
Coniglio has been well below his best in season 2020 with Champion Data rating him 64th of the 76 midfielders who have played five or more games this year.
The report also states that the 26-year-old’s kicking efficiency this year is the worst of his career to date.
The Giants currently sit eighth on the ladder while the Demons are 10th and four points behind ahead of this weekend’s crucial meeting at the Gabba.
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