AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has urged Stephen Coniglio to stay at GWS.

Coniglio is out of contract at season’s end and has been strongly linked to a move to Carlton or Hawthorn as a restricted free agent.

However, the chief of the competition would like to see the midfielder remain with the Giants.

“Yeah I would (be disappointed if Coniglio left GWS),” McLachlan told Sportsday.

“Certainly my advice is that’s not a given (reports that Coniglio is leaving).

“I think he is a star player and I know he’s a leader of that club and I know him a bit personally and he’s a fabulous person and I’ll be explicit, I want him there.

“I’d love him to stay.”

Channel Seven’s Mark Stevens reported last week that Coniglio was leaning towards leaving the Giants and joining Carlton.