GREATER Western Sydney's Rhys Palmer says his kiss on teammate Stephen Coniglio's cheek requires little explanation apart from the fact the pair share a European background and are close.  

Palmer kissed Coniglio in the third quarter when the stand-in captain kicked a goal during the side's opening NAB Challenge match against the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night in Canberra.

Social media lit up after the kiss, widely criticising the TV commentators' reaction to it.

Palmer told gwsgiants.com.au: "We're pretty close, it wasn't something that was premeditated. We probably got caught up in the moment a little bit.

"We sort of greet each other with a kiss every morning we see each other at the club, and that probably got taken into the game.

"There's a bit of European in both of us so I guess that’s where we get in from."

The West Australians have been with the club since it entered the AFL in 2012, and both men were among the best in the Giants' 31-point loss to the Bulldogs.