More of Stephen Coniglio’s fifth right foot AFL veteran, 31, deals with a nagging adversary. Significant flexibility this issue has prevented him from returning to the field since Round 3 of this season. Coniglio’s was a small glute issue first deemed a one-week injury. Now his condition has gone backwards, pushing his return to the field too far until at least Round 14 against Brisbane.
Coniglio had five surgeries after a late-season check last year — facial reconstruction, followed by shoulder reconstruction. He had just begun to get his groove back when he came up lame with this most recent injury. Yet, pain started shooting down his leg, forcing him to exit a game earlier this season.
I figured two or three days would clear everything up.” Coniglio said. But as the story went on, it was obvious that this was more complex.
“As it’s gone on, it’s moved from my glute down my hamstring.” – Stephen Coniglio
AFL star Aliir revealed that he’s been struggling with a nerve affliction that has made his rehabilitation more multi-layered. This has been a bit of trial and error, but it’s a nerve issue that’s just really bugging me,” he said. And Coniglio underwent at least seven rounds of various injections searching for relief. Unfortunately, they haven’t come through with the outcomes he wanted to see.
The burden of these injuries has been heavy, especially given Coniglio’s recent past. Following a tough year in surgeries and rehabilitation, he began to feel like himself and his shoulder again. Most importantly perhaps, he started feeling a bit more positive about his appearance. I’m past 30 now, and everybody wants to tell me that’s why. I feel like I’m 24 or 25 again since I haven’t played much in the past year,” he said.
Coniglio is confident he can continue making meaningful contributions to the team, and adamantly claims he has more to offer. In his present frame of mind he wasn’t merely focusing on individual performance, but willed for team success. “Yes, we’re trying to win games of football, but we’re trying to build the club,” he stated.
Pride in being the representative of his community, and the importance of having the talent of Western Sydney on display. And there’s no better place to show that than here in Western Sydney,” Coniglio said.
