- Stephen Coniglio and Harry Himmelberg have pre-game smooch
- Giants players seemed to have planned the moment planned
In an unexpected moment on Saturday night, GWS Giants players Stephen Coniglio and Harry Himmelberg were spotted sharing a pre-game kiss before their loss to Hawthorn.
The two players seemed to have the affectionate moment planned, with each of them heading toward one another after the team huddle in Launceston.
Himmelberg and Coniglio met in the middle of the park and then leaned in for the smooch.
Teammates of the pair walked away from the two players shaking their heads and smiling.
It’s not the first time Coniglio has been involved in such an incident, with the footy star being kissed by Rhys Palmer during a goal celebration in 2016.
At the time Palmer said it was just a bit of fun and a nod to his teammate’s Italian heritage.
Stephen Coniglio and Harry Himmelberg shared a pre-game kiss before their loss to Hawthorn
The Hawks kept top spot on the ladder after the 10.16 (76) to 9.10 (64) result over GWS
Unfortunately, Coniglio and Himmelberg’s kiss wasn’t a sign of good things to come, with Hawthorn rallying from a five-goal opening term deficit to topple GWS by 12 points.
The Hawks, 4-0 to start a year for the first time since 2014, kept top spot on the ladder after the 10.16 (76) to 9.10 (64) result at a blustery Launceston.
All 11 first-half goals were scored with the wind, with GWS opening up a 37-2 lead at quarter time.
Hawthorn came to life at the back-end of the second term with the breeze at their back, kicking six goals in 13 minutes for a 46-39 halftime lead.
Will Day and Nick Watson were heavily involved and both also had nice touches as Hawthorn broke the back of GWS with four straight majors at the end of the third against the trend.
Giants gun Jesse Hogan, who topped the goal tally with four on return from a broken thumb, set up a tense finish when he cut the margin to 12 with less than three minutes on the clock.
But Hawthorn scrambled well to hold on in front of a 14,021 crowd.
‘I’m enormously proud of our response … they obviously jumped us,’ Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said.
Hawthorn scrambled well to hold on in front of a 14,021 crowd
‘Their pressure and intensity early in the game was just a bit much to be honest.
‘The breeze helped in the second but to maintain that in the third was pleasing.’
Hawthorn, who have a bye next weekend, knocked off Sydney, Essendon and Carlton in the opening three rounds.
The previously undefeated Giants were near full-strength, with reigning Coleman Medallist Hogan back and Jake Stringer making his club debut.
Hogan made an impact early with two goals in the first term when his side had the running.
Hawthorn, meanwhile, shared the majors between nine players, with veteran Jack Gunston getting a double.
Hawks big man Lloyd Meek outpointed the GWS rucks and finished with 31 hitouts, while Cam Mackenzie had a team-high 30 disposals.
Despite the final score, the Hawks barely got a shot on goal in a first quarter in which they trailed inside 50s 22-6.
They had the yips in front of goal with the gale behind them early in the second, with Gunston and Mabior Chol missing gettable shots.
But they found their composure despite a brief light tower outage.
Giants coach Adam Kingsley said his side couldn’t put the brakes on Hawthorn when it mattered.
‘Both teams are capable of scoring in short bursts … during those moments when the opposition has momentum you need to be able to minimise the damage,’ he said.
‘And we weren’t able to do that.’
