GWS midfielder Stephen Coniglio believes he will be suiting up in the orange and charcoal in the Giants' Opening Round clash against Collingwood as he progresses through recovery from facial fractures and shoulder surgeries.
Coniglio suffered a nasty head knock in a marking contest with teammate Aaron Cadman and Lions defender Harris Andrews during the club's semi-final clash, resulting in a concussion and five facial fractures before an extensive road to recovery.
The 31-year-old also went under the knife to repair a shoulder dislocation suffered in Round 11, and has been rehabbing since November.
With just six weeks until GWS' clash with the Magpies, Coniglio is bullish on his return to the side.
"I'd definitely hope so, I'm feeling like my rehab progression each week has been good so far, I'm feeling good," Coniglio said.
"We have a healthy list at the moment so it's nice to see everyone out there.
"For myself, I'm hoping (I'm there Opening Round), for me it's more likely yes than no."
Coniglio believes that the sickening face injury was the cruellest he's suffered, and given his veteran age, made it one of the hardest periods to endure since his AFL journey began in 2012.
"I'm 31 now, you know when I look over my career this is easily one of the most difficult periods of my career," Coniglio said.
"I'm very blessed with my wife and two daughters, and also from the club in general, the support they've been able to provide me.
"Onwards and upwards now... a lot to look forward to for the club and myself."
Coniglio is not only fuelled by the ability to retake the field again after his severe injury in the semi-final but also by the repeated failure to close out a large lead in a second consecutive final.
The Giants led by 44 in the semi-final before losing by five, a week after leading by 21 points at three-quarter-time before capitulating to lose to the Swans by six.
"No doubt (the finals losses have fuelled the fire for the team), for myself, and you look around guys like Josh Kelly and Cal Ward, Lachie Whitfield and Toby Greene, we've been so close so many times and to lose in the manner that we did was extremely disappointing," Coniglio said.
"It's never something you completely get over, but we're at an age now and a maturity now where we're not just trying to make amends for that, we're just trying to continue on our journey and we feel like we're doing a lot of the right things behind the scenes.
"Particularly since Adam (Kingsley)'s come over and we've really bought in, not so much a new culture, but a way of doing things.
"We're pushing and contending in September and we'll do it again this year."
Coniglio was also queried on what trade recruit Jake Stringer can bring to the side, after a 42-goal season in 2024.
The Giants' forward line looks stacked on paper in 2025, with Stringer surrounded by the likes of Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan, All-Australian Toby Greene, and arguably the league's best small forward in Brent Daniels.
"The answer is yes (Jake Stringer can be the spark), but I hope there are others as well. I think there's a number of guys that are that little bit older and little bit more experienced with another pre-season under their belt, and some guys around him (Stringer) that can bob up as well," Coniglio said.
"I've known Jake a long time, he's fit in so well already with the playing group, and we all know what he's capable of on the footy field.
"It's a dangerous prospect and you look forward of the footy and you've got the personnel that we already have, to be able to add him into that mix is exciting for midfielders and halfbacks kicking the ball in, that's for sure."
With GWS' first date of the season coming against a familiar foe in familiar territory, Coniglio strongly endorsed the Opening Round fixture, after a sell-out crowd saw the Giants begin their 2024 campaign with a win over the reigning premiers.
The Giants will once again host the Magpies, with the Giants midfielder advocating the polarising round is critical to the game's growth in New South Wales, a state dominated by rugby league.
"(Opening Round)'s imperative for the AFL to grow the game in New South Wales," Coniglio said.
"It was a massive success last year, with the excitement around Sydney Olympic Park and Sydney in general.
"A couple of games here to kickstart the year was fantastic, and to do it again against Collingwood who no doubt will have some fans wanting to come up, makes for a great weekend.
"To kickstart our year off here is something we love to do.
"It's imperative for the AFL, Melbourne have enough fixtures throughout the whole calendar, so we'll take Opening Round any day of the year."
The Giants' Opening Round clash falls on Sunday, March 9, with their following fixture a trip to Victoria to play Melbourne at the MCG.