ADAM Kingsley has been rewarded for reviving Greater Western Sydney's fortunes with a new three-year contract extension.
The deal means Kingsley, who was already contracted as senior coach until the end of next season, will helm the Giants until at least the end of 2028.
After long-serving boss Leon Cameron departed midway through 2022, Kingsley took over ahead of the 2023 campaign and after a difficult start on the field, guided the Giants to a narrow preliminary final loss to eventual premier Collingwood.
Giants CEO David Matthews said Kingsley's impact on the playing group within 18 months had been "profound".
"He has a great understanding of the game and a game plan built for success, and we are confident he can lead our program into an exciting future," Matthews said.
"Adam has a great ability to teach, motivate and inspire the group and we see him as the ideal person to continue to coach our AFL side as we strive for the ultimate success."
For Kingsley, the new deal has always been a fait accompli and a rather uncomplicated process for a coach who has rejuvenated the Giants' on-field fortunes just a season-and-a-half into his first senior coaching position.
"Really happy to lock it away. A bit more security so that's nice, really enjoyed the journey so far with this footy club and really looking forward to what the future holds," he said.
"It's very satisfying, but clearly we know the game keeps moving for our coaching staff and players. I've had tremendous support from everyone at the footy club, so it's not just me, it's a team. I get the lick this time, the other guys will get their turn in due course."
Kingsley has led the way in proclaiming the Giants' premiership aspirations from the start of pre-season and there is a school of thought that the club needs to strike now before the core group of Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield, Jesse Hogan, Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly pass their peak.
With a lengthy three-year deal signed, Kingsley said there is a long runway possible for success at the club, rather than just the immediate future.
"I'd like to do both. Strike now and later. That's the plan," he said.
"Toby (Greene), 'Cogs' (Stephen Coniglio), Lachie (Whitfield), Josh (Kelly), they're all 29, 30. They've got a fair bit of footy left in them. We understand the importance of now and we're certainly trying to win now. But we need to grow and develop, build our game and players so that we can win later as well. That's our mindset."
Coniglio will miss Saturday's clash against Melbourne, but star defender Sam Taylor is ready to slot back in after missing five weeks with a ruptured testicle suffered against Port Adelaide in round 15.
The Giants are hopeful Coniglio will be back to take on Hawthorn next week in Canberra.
"His shoulder is just not quite ready. Hopefully he'll be available next week, I expect he will be, but he's got to get through training next week," Kingsley said.
Taylor's inclusion may just prompt the one change for the Demons clash as the Giants look to make it two wins at the MCG in the past three weeks.
Isaac Cumming will go out due to his significant hamstring injury suffered against the Suns and will likely force a team rejig to fill his vacant wing spot.
"I think we have a number of options. [Xavier] O'Halloran came on [against Gold Coast as sub], I think he's capable. [Toby] McMullin could come up to the wing. Joe Fonti, Lachie Ash or [Lachie] Whitfield could step up from the backline and play that role. We've got a few decisions to make.," Kingsley said.
The Giants coach is also pondering the tagging target for former Demon Toby Bedford and he admits Trent Rivers may have elevated himself to that level of threat in the Melbourne midfield in the absence of Christian Petracca.
"Well, he has. Whether we do that or not, I can't tell you. He's a significant player for them. He plays a specific role that's important for Melbourne. He holds their midfield together, he's classy with the ball. He creates scores for them but he's also really good in the contest. We'll have a plan one way or another," Kingsley said.
Along with Bedford, Jesse Hogan will also take on his former side, in the midst of his excellent campaign that has him just four goals behind Coleman Medal leader Charlie Curnow with 49 majors.
Hogan needs just one more goal to pass his career-best haul in a season.
"He's been outstanding. He's kicking goals but more importantly, he's contributing to other goals. The classic example was handballing off to Aaron Cadman in the goalsquare last week. He's making others around him better," Kingsley said.
Max Gawn's availability promises to have a huge bearing on the contest as the Demons try to stay in touch with the top eight.
They were smashed in the stoppages against Fremantle last week in Perth and will have problems with the in-form Keiren Briggs if Gawn isn't fit to take his place, although the Giants are expecting the six-time All-Australian to line up.
"Melbourne will be a different team back at the MCG. They'll be keen to rectify their result from last week. They'll probably get Gawn back which will be an enormous help to them," Kingsley said.
"I think they should rest him for one more week, just in case, personally. He'll help them lift their stoppage game which was a bit down against Fremantle."