GWS tagger Toby Bedford has offered some light on his run-with roles for Adam Kingsley, and how he prepares for taking on the competition's best players.
Bedford has quickly become a critically acclaimed run-with player, curbing the likes of Nick Daicos, Zak Butters, Patrick Cripps and more, but he reveals there's something he looks at the NRL powerhouse Penrith in his planning.
The former Demon's last match was against Sydney, where he was sent to multiple players throughout the hard-fought contest, and he was ruled out following an errant strike from Lewis Melican.
Bedford spent time on Isaac Heeney, before he moved to Chad Warner.
"I kind of expect it now, cause 'Kingers' [coach Adam Kingsley] just does that to me during games. I just go โoh well, I'll start on someone but end up on someone else'. Obviously, it's difficult with different kind of players," Bedford said on Tuesday.
"We've done some new things this year, though, where players show different [opposition] players and present. It's something we've brought in from Penrith.
"It's something [Penrith captain] Nathan Cleary does. Finn Callaghan and Connor Idun went in there and listened in to a team meeting, and he presents to the players. We've tried to do the same thing, just grab a few players and present on other players, and it gives a better understanding for all our [opposition] players each week. It hasn't come from the coaches, it's come from the players."
Bedford missed the club's victory over Geelong, dealing with a serious eye injury that resulted in "blurred vision", but is all but set to return in Round 10, pending the all-clear from the medicos.
Melican received a three-game suspension, and will return after another fortnight on the sidelines.
But the 24-year-old didn't hold anything against the Swans defender, instead focusing on returning to the Giants side.
"I think it's a mistake on the field. I don't think he genuinely meant it, but obviously it's still frustrating. I thought we were coming back into the game and [I was] making my way into the game nicely as well, but I understand that accidents happen," Bedford said.
"If people are going to continue to do that, they'll just get weeks. It is what it is, I'll continue to play the same way.
"I felt last week if I was given clearance, I would have been able to play. It was just a precautionary thing where we thought it was better to wait one more week. If he (the ophthalmologist) says I'm all good tomorrow, I'll be 100 per cent confident."
View this post on Instagram
Bedford is expected to return on a weekend when the competition is honouring Sir Doug Nicholls, and the contributions from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, a round close to his heart.
"The boys did some spear throwing and fire lighting sessions and really enjoyed it," Bedford said.
"I feel this round is getting bigger and bigger each year. Everyone loves the guernseys when they first get released. Everyone's really buying in."
