Brave New World
Team Captain
- Oct 31, 2009
- 389
- 751
- AFL Club
- GWS
Toby Bedford ready if called upon to tag one of Sydney’s star midfielders
By LACHLAN MCKIRDY
SPORTS REPORTER
NEWS SPORT NETWORK
19 JUNE 2024
When Toby Bedford first saw Adam Kingsley’s name flash up on his phone last week, he had a thought that it might not be a happy call.
One of the Giants’ most important players in their run to the 2023 preliminary final, Bedford has had a quieter start to the season by his own standards. With only six goals to his name, he thought the time might have come for a spell in the reserves.
“I’ve openly said that I haven’t been stoked with my year,” Bedford said.
“Kingers doesn’t always speak to me randomly at times, I’m the pressure forward that’s all that needs to be said.
“So when I saw his name pop up, I was a bit concerned. I was hoping I wasn’t playing twos, to be honest.”
Despite not setting the world alight this year, it was a far different call from Kingsley. The second-year coach had come up with a new role for Bedford against Port Adelaide. One that has proven in vogue across the competition: a tagger.
The idea was to stop the elite Power midfield from gaining the ascendancy by getting Bedford to stick like glue to Zak Butters. The end result was better than either player or coach was expecting.
One of the competition’s best midfielders, Butters was only able to amass 11 disposals and two score involvements in the 59 minutes he was matched-up on Bedford. It contributed to the Giants dominating many of the contested ball stats against Port and eventually running over the top of them late in the game.
The impact of Bedford's tag
Bedford also benefited from the decision, producing his best game of the year which included a scintillating stoppage goal to help get this side back in the winner’s circle. He also received a perfect 10 coaches vote for his performance.
“I’d never really done it before,” Bedford said. “It was all about trying to limit his impact on the game, but getting involved when I can on the flip side.
“I had a few days to prepare. It was Butters as well, who is a really good player and I rate him highly. So, I went through some stuff with the coaches on Friday to prepare as best as I can.
“Hopefully, this is a nice little kicking stone for my season, but we’ll wait and see.”
Bedford has already made the most of his one week in the midfield group, joining the likes of Tom Green and Josh Kelly for some of their weekly sessions.
The Giants often play games during their captain’s run where the teams are made up of each line group. After struggling for much of the year, Bedford thinks he has been the midfield group’s lucky charm.
“When I was in the midfield group we actually won it,” Bedford said. “I don’t know if it’s me, but I’m just saying, I’m the common denominator.
“The forwards were going alright, now I’ve gone to the mids and they’ve won one. So we’ll see.”
After the success of Bedford’s shutdown role on Butters, all eyes will be on this week’s Sydney Derby to see if he can have a similar influence on the juggernaut that is the Swans’ midfield.
Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden have proven themselves to be three of the competition’s most damaging players in 2024. The trio are currently all in the top six for the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award, while Heeney is still the Brownlow favourite.
They have been the most damaging users for the Swans this year, dominating the score involvement statistics in the AFL and propelling John Longmire’s side to top of the table.
At various times this season, coaches have tried to limit their influence. Carlton’s Matthew Kennedy player a solid role on Heeney in round 10, limiting him to just eight disposals in 46 minutes.
Recent tags on Sydney's midfield
The Crows’ Max Michalanney has been one of the best taggers against Sydney in recent weeks, keeping Warner to just 11 disposals in 70 minutes.
Bedford’s athletic profile means he has the strength, and stamina, to run with any player in the competition. But the most likely match-up is set to be Warner or Gulden.
Gulden was the most lethal against the Crows, finishing with 768 metres gained, 10 clearances and 10 score involvements. While the Giants need to find a way to keep all three players quiet, limiting Gulden’s influence should be a priority for Kingsley.
And Bedford is ready to go if he’s called on again.
“I think our midfield is very strong,” Bedford said. “If I have that role again from Kingers, I’d be more than confident to do so.
“They’re very different players to Butters as well, but I’d just go out there to do my best for the team.”
By LACHLAN MCKIRDY
SPORTS REPORTER
NEWS SPORT NETWORK
19 JUNE 2024
When Toby Bedford first saw Adam Kingsley’s name flash up on his phone last week, he had a thought that it might not be a happy call.
One of the Giants’ most important players in their run to the 2023 preliminary final, Bedford has had a quieter start to the season by his own standards. With only six goals to his name, he thought the time might have come for a spell in the reserves.
“I’ve openly said that I haven’t been stoked with my year,” Bedford said.
“Kingers doesn’t always speak to me randomly at times, I’m the pressure forward that’s all that needs to be said.
“So when I saw his name pop up, I was a bit concerned. I was hoping I wasn’t playing twos, to be honest.”
Despite not setting the world alight this year, it was a far different call from Kingsley. The second-year coach had come up with a new role for Bedford against Port Adelaide. One that has proven in vogue across the competition: a tagger.
The idea was to stop the elite Power midfield from gaining the ascendancy by getting Bedford to stick like glue to Zak Butters. The end result was better than either player or coach was expecting.
One of the competition’s best midfielders, Butters was only able to amass 11 disposals and two score involvements in the 59 minutes he was matched-up on Bedford. It contributed to the Giants dominating many of the contested ball stats against Port and eventually running over the top of them late in the game.
The impact of Bedford's tag
| T. Bedford | 59 Minutes Matchup | Z. Butters |
| 10 | Disposals | 11 |
| 3 | Contested Possessions | 7 |
| 2 | Clearances | 4 |
| 3 | Score Involvements | 2 |
| Port Adelaide's Midfield | R14 v GWS |
| Contested Possessions | -19 |
| Groundball Gets | -5 |
| First Possessions | -9 |
| Clearances | -1 |
Bedford also benefited from the decision, producing his best game of the year which included a scintillating stoppage goal to help get this side back in the winner’s circle. He also received a perfect 10 coaches vote for his performance.
“I’d never really done it before,” Bedford said. “It was all about trying to limit his impact on the game, but getting involved when I can on the flip side.
“I had a few days to prepare. It was Butters as well, who is a really good player and I rate him highly. So, I went through some stuff with the coaches on Friday to prepare as best as I can.
“Hopefully, this is a nice little kicking stone for my season, but we’ll wait and see.”
Bedford has already made the most of his one week in the midfield group, joining the likes of Tom Green and Josh Kelly for some of their weekly sessions.
The Giants often play games during their captain’s run where the teams are made up of each line group. After struggling for much of the year, Bedford thinks he has been the midfield group’s lucky charm.
“When I was in the midfield group we actually won it,” Bedford said. “I don’t know if it’s me, but I’m just saying, I’m the common denominator.
“The forwards were going alright, now I’ve gone to the mids and they’ve won one. So we’ll see.”
After the success of Bedford’s shutdown role on Butters, all eyes will be on this week’s Sydney Derby to see if he can have a similar influence on the juggernaut that is the Swans’ midfield.
Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden have proven themselves to be three of the competition’s most damaging players in 2024. The trio are currently all in the top six for the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award, while Heeney is still the Brownlow favourite.
They have been the most damaging users for the Swans this year, dominating the score involvement statistics in the AFL and propelling John Longmire’s side to top of the table.
At various times this season, coaches have tried to limit their influence. Carlton’s Matthew Kennedy player a solid role on Heeney in round 10, limiting him to just eight disposals in 46 minutes.
Recent tags on Sydney's midfield
| Isaac Heeney | ||||
| Match | Match-up Mins | Disposals | Contested Poss. | Clearances |
| R9 v Hayden Young | 41 | 12 | 6 | 3 |
| R10 v Matthew Kennedy | 46 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Chad Warner | ||||
| Match | Match-up Mins | Disposals | Contested Poss. | Clearances |
| R14 v Max Michalanney | 70 | 11 | 4 | 1 |
The Crows’ Max Michalanney has been one of the best taggers against Sydney in recent weeks, keeping Warner to just 11 disposals in 70 minutes.
Bedford’s athletic profile means he has the strength, and stamina, to run with any player in the competition. But the most likely match-up is set to be Warner or Gulden.
Gulden was the most lethal against the Crows, finishing with 768 metres gained, 10 clearances and 10 score involvements. While the Giants need to find a way to keep all three players quiet, limiting Gulden’s influence should be a priority for Kingsley.
And Bedford is ready to go if he’s called on again.
“I think our midfield is very strong,” Bedford said. “If I have that role again from Kingers, I’d be more than confident to do so.
“They’re very different players to Butters as well, but I’d just go out there to do my best for the team.”
