Stephen Coniglio shines in GWS Giants defeat

Greater Western Sydney's stand-in skipper was a cut above for the Giants in their 18-point pre-season defeat at the hands of the Adelaide Crows in front of 4098 at Manuka Oval on Friday night.

Coniglio's (37 disposals, seven marks) effort wasn't enough to stave off a Rory Sloane-inspired Crows outfit that muzzled the Giants' forward line to keep the hosts goalless for two quarters en route to a 10.15 (75) to 7.15 (57) victory.

But it serves as another lasting reminder of why Fremantle are desperate to lure him back to Western Australia next year, and rest assured they won't be the only club keen to sit down for a coffee with Coniglio's manager.

"That's two weeks in a row, no surprise from the coaching group who are watching him train. He's the ultimate professional, when you work hard you get the rewards, and I thought he stood up," GWS assistant Matthew Nicks said.

More pressing for 25-year-old Coniglio than future contracts is busting the myth that GWS' premiership window is shut. Doubters will point to the scoreline to highlight that point.

But while the undermanned Giants were outclassed by the Crows, neither side will wake up on Saturday too concerned about the scoreboard as they set their sights on round one.

Coniglio has a major role to play in the opening rounds as GWS contemplate life without inspirational co-captain Callan Ward for four to six weeks after he suffered a knee injury last week.

Ward's absence poses another question to Giants coach Leon Cameron, who is already trying to figure out how to plug the holes left by Dylan Shiel and Tom Scully in what was once football's Ferrari.

Even so, the Giants needn't stress too much. Coniglio and Lachie Whitfield are fit and firing, Toby Greene looked anything but a player coming off ankle surgery, and Adam Tomlinson's calf shows no signs of slowing him down.

Throw the impending returns of Josh Kelly and Ward into the mix, add Jeremy Cameron's firepower up front and a solid back six, and the club still has a core good enough to trouble any rival.

As frustrating as it has been for a club growing accustomed to falling agonisingly short in September, the Giants' injury curse has opened a window of opportunity for some.

Daniel Lloyd has firmed to fill Zac Langdon's boots in the opening rounds of the year, backing up a stellar three-goal showing with a pair of majors in a quiet night inside the Giants' forward 50.

"He's been real quality for us, he's working hard. He has taken his work rate and his off-field stuff to another level," Nicks said.

"He's going to get better. There's a lot of improvement to come. It was nice to see him step up and show some stuff through that last quarter especially.

"[Ward] is one we're going to have to cover, because when your captain goes down... he's our on-field leader and he really does lead the way in the contest stakes. We'll be looking for a couple of the other midfielders to step up in that area."

Adelaide dominated the disposal count in the opening term but scores were locked at the first break with the Giants making better use of the ball, however the tide soon turned as the visitors held GWS goalless for the next two quarters.

The Crows quickly found a glimmer of hope in Brad Crouch (31 disposals) as he makes his return from a nightmare groin injury that kept him sidelined for the entirety of 2018.

The 25-year-old looms as a huge addition to Adelaide's midfield as they plot their path back towards finals football following an underwhelming return last season.

"He's travelling really well. We know the quality Brad was. He was disappointed to not be able to play any footy at all last year so it's just great," Crows coach Don Pyke said.

"For us the expectation for Brad is just to keep our fingers crossed for his continuity. We know how he can play, and he took another step forward".

The only Adelaide player to top Crouch's disposal count was his brother Matt Crouch (38 touches, nine tackles). The brothers and newly-anointed co-captain Sloane loom as key pillars in the Crows' bid to reach the lofty heights of 2017.

AT A GLANCE

AFL pre-season:

GWS GIANTS 3.2 3.7 3.11 7.15 (57)
ADELAIDE CROWS 3.2 6.8 9.12 10.15 (75)

GWS goals: D Lloyd 2, J Cameron 2, T Greene, B Daniels, B Deledio
Adelaide goals: J Jenkins 2, C Jones 2, E Betts, R Atkins, R Sloane, P Seedsman, T Walker, W Milera

Crowd: 4098 at Manuka Oval.