The AFL wishes to advise GWS GIANTS captain Stephen Coniglio will join the Competition Committee ahead of its first meeting for 2020 to be held in Melbourne on Wednesday March 11.

AFL General Manager Football Operations Steve Hocking said he was pleased Stephen will be joining the Committee and looked forward to his insights as a representative of the AFL playing group.

“Stephen is an outstanding leader of his club and a genuine role model of our game, and we look forward to his contribution as a member of the Competition Committee,” Mr Hocking said.

“An impressive footballer on the field, Stephen works equally hard off the field to progress the game at all levels and was last year recognised for this service by being awarded the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.

“Stephen’s passion and commitment to promote Australian Football in Western Sydney is truly impressive and his unique insights in this space will be of great value to the Committee.

“I look forward to the first Competition Committee meeting of the year where the primary focus remains on advancing the game while protecting its heritage.”

Mr Hocking also said he looked forward to the commencement of the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season following a season where one in three games resulted in an upset.

“The 2019 season saw an extremely close and unpredictable AFL competition with one in five games decided by 10 points or less and the evenness of the competition is creating great anticipation among all fans for this coming season.”

The Competition Committee for 2020 comprises:

Colin Carter (Geelong Cats), Eddie McGuire (Collingwood), Peggy O’Neal (Richmond), Andrew Ireland (Sydney Swans), Andrew Fagan (Adelaide Crows), Justin Reeves (Hawthorn), Chris Fagan (Brisbane Lions), Chris Davies (Port Adelaide), Craig Vozzo (West Coast Eagles), Patrick Dangerfield (AFLPA President / Geelong Cats), Stephen Coniglio (GWS GIANTS), Brett Murphy (General Manager Player and Stakeholder Relations), Steve Hocking (General Manager - Football Operations, chair), Jason Ball (AFL Commissioner), Nicole Livingstone (AFLW Head of Football), Kylie Rogers (General Manager - Commercial), Rob Auld (Head of Competition Management), Brad Scott (Competition Evolution Manager).

Head of Competition Management Rob Auld and Competition Evolution Manager Brad Scott have been added to the Committee as AFL representatives.

Melbourne player Steven May has elected to depart the Committee and Mr Hocking thanked him for his contribution over the past two years.

Formed in 2018, the Competition Committee’s role is to guide discussion around decision-making for the AFL Commission and AFL Executive on key aspects of the future direction of the AFL Competition.