Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has personally made a pitch for GWS midfielder Stephen Coniglio to join the club next year if he decides to leave the Giants.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 last night, Clarkson told hosts Gerard Whateley and Mark Robinson the Hawks are obviously keen to sign him though aren’t trying to “crowbar” Coniglio out of Sydney.
“Yeah, I’ve spoken to him, but not as much as what (list manager) Graham Wright and our (recruiting) group have,” Clarkson said.
Coniglio’s free agency decision has been the talk of the footy world for the past two months as speculation grows he will leave Giants and play for either Carlton or Hawthorn.
Reports suggest Carlton have offered Coniglio substantially more money than the Hawks, however, his best mate is no other than Hawks midfielder Jaeger O’Meara.
Clarkson stressed he was like everyone else in that he doesn’t know where Coniglio will be playing next year.
“I genuinely don’t know and to be honest, this sounds peculiar, but the preference of all coaches is that players would stay at their club.”
Coniglio is still recovering from knee surgery a month ago, which has sidelined him for the rest of the season.
The Giants travel to Gold Coast to take on the Suns on Saturday night while the Hawks head west to play the Eagles in a do or die clash to make finals.
