GWS tagger Toby Bedford could become ball winner in 2025 as he awaits news on if he’ll get job on Nick Daicos

GWS midfielder Toby Bedford says he’s no certainty to play every game as a tagger this season but will be ready to shut down Nick Daicos if required in Sunday’s game at Engie Stadium. Bedford was moved into a tagging role in the second half of last season and played on some of the AFL’s biggest names including Patrick Cripps, Lachie Neale, Zak Butters, Chad Warner, Jordan Dawson, Noah Anderson and Tim Taranto. The Giants didn’t play against Collingwood while Bedford was tagging during 2024 but starting the season on Daicos appears an obvious move. Bedford has also trained as a ball winning midfielder over summer and said he could have multiple jobs on Sunday. SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE FOOTY TIPPING TO WIN A SHARE OF $85K “It’s the first year where I’ve done the whole pre-season in the midfield. So whether that’s regular onball or tagging someone, I’m happy to do it,” Bedford told The West Australian. “Nick Daicos is a great player so I wouldn’t be shocked if I had to play on him. But I wouldn’t be shocked if I didn’t have to either. The coaches will make their plan up and I’ll try to execute that to the best of my ability. “I’ve never played on Daicos. He’s one of the best players in the league and I think he’s going to get better. If I’m given the task, I’ll have to watch a lot of vision and come prepared because he’s such a hard runner.” GWS will be without tough onballer Tom Green for Sunday’s game as he recovers from a calf injury and that may mean the Giants need Bedford to play a more attacking role. His speed will add another element to the Giants’ midfield in 2025 and he said it was important to give the team different ways to hurt the opposition. “We feel like I have midfield traits so I’m working on that midfield craft. The main thing I wanted to work on over pre-season was that I could damage teams when I get the opportunity. IF it’s my turn to win the ball, I want to do that,” he said. “We’ve got a host of great midfielders in our team like Tom Green, Josh Kelly, Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio as established players, so I’m picking their brain. “I’ve got high speed so I need to go in there and use those traits. If I can help the rest of those mids to shine and we are winning, I’ll be happy.”