AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has defended his stance on free agent Stephen Coniglio but has declared he remains a "romantic" when it comes to one-club players.
McLachlan has been criticised for appealing to Coniglio's character for him to remain with the Giants, for the star midfielder has attracted the interest of Carlton and Hawthorn.
Free agent Stephen Coniglio (left) at Giants training this week. Credit:AAP
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley joined the debate this week, suggesting McLachlan should remain "a little more neutral" on such issues.
However, McLachlan said on Friday he had only offered his opinion, and it had been a position he had taken before.
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“Ive said it about all players. Im a bit of a romantic and I like people staying one-club players," he said on his weekly slot on 3AW.
“It was a personal opinion. Players have got to make the decisions they want to make and will go where they want to go.
“I was asked for a personal view and I am a bit of a romantic."
At a time when player movement continues to stir debate, McLachlan said players were free to make a call on their own future.
"I just said in terms of an opinion. I said it about [Patrick] Dangerfield and he left, players have to make the decisions they want to to make," he said.
Coniglio is a foundation player of the Giants and remains a key figure in the expansion club&#Read More – Source
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has defended his stance on free agent Stephen Coniglio but has declared he remains a "romantic" when it comes to one-club players.
McLachlan has been criticised for appealing to Coniglio's character for him to remain with the Giants, for the star midfielder has attracted the interest of Carlton and Hawthorn.
Free agent Stephen Coniglio (left) at Giants training this week. Credit:AAP
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley joined the debate this week, suggesting McLachlan should remain "a little more neutral" on such issues.
However, McLachlan said on Friday he had only offered his opinion, and it had been a position he had taken before.
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“Ive said it about all players. Im a bit of a romantic and I like people staying one-club players," he said on his weekly slot on 3AW.
“It was a personal opinion. Players have got to make the decisions they want to make and will go where they want to go.
“I was asked for a personal view and I am a bit of a romantic."
At a time when player movement continues to stir debate, McLachlan said players were free to make a call on their own future.
"I just said in terms of an opinion. I said it about [Patrick] Dangerfield and he left, players have to make the decisions they want to to make," he said.
Coniglio is a foundation player of the Giants and remains a key figure in the expansion club&#Read More – Source
