GIANTS captain Stephen Coniglio will lean on friend and understudy Toby Greene as the club's foundation players plot a return to finals after a disappointing season.

The GIANTS have confirmed Coniglio will remain skipper after he and the club struggled in 2020, when they finished 10th then failed to retain Jeremy Cameron and Zac Williams.

Greene has been appointed vice-captain as part of a leadership group that also includes Phil Davis, Jacob Hopper, Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly and Matt de Boer.

Coniglio says the elevation of Greene, who has become one of the League's pantomime villains while accruing fines of almost $30,000 under the match-review process, is thoroughly deserved and a boon for the club.

"I'm lucky. He's a teammate and one of my best mates. Throughout the journey, there's been many ups and downs for both of us," the star midfielder told AAP, having been drafted alongside Greene in 2011.

"We're very fortunate to have each other.

"He should be very proud of himself.

"He's done a really good job over the last 18 or 24 months. I reckon he's won a few people over if they did see him as a villain.

"He's one of our best players, yes, but one of the guys you want to play with. He'll do anything for you ... he's a great person, very loyal and hard working."

Greene, whose competitive streak, character and mentorship are highly regarded at the GIANTS, described his promotion as an honour and spoke of his love for the club.

"Leadership is something I've worked really hard on developing," the firebrand forward said.

"It's an area I want to continue to improve in."

Greene has captained the expansion club in the past - most recently in round 17 last season, when Coniglio became the first AFL skipper to be dropped in 22 years.

It is a painful moment that Coniglio has recently relived through the Amazon Prime Video documentary series, which is officially released on Friday.

"The year we went through - as a club and myself personally - it was difficult," he said.

"But onwards and upwards, it's very much behind us.

"We've all had a long time to reflect."

For the former No.2 draft pick that has meant resetting focus on leading from the front with his football.

"I want to contribute more as a player. You're captain for a reason and part of the reason is you play good footy," Coniglio said.

"I wasn't up to my usual high standards last season. That's been a really big thing, during the off-season, preseason, now round one and beyond. I want to get back to the form I was in, two years ago."