Stephen Coniglio has been named skipper for Greater Western Sydney’s first AFL pre-season match against the Western Bulldogs.

The midfielder, among a handful of Giants entering their fifth AFL season, will lead a young side at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Thursday, with co-captains Phil Davis named an emergency and Callan Ward rested.

“He’s well-respected, he’s hard at it, he leads by example, he tackles, he plays good defence and he’s an ultimate team man,” coach Leon Cameron said on Wednesday.