Moneyball: All the latest AFL trade and contract news
Toby Bedford crossed to GWS as a small forward under-utilised by the Demons in 2022. Three years – and a looming contract extension – later, Melbourne might be thinking what if?
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Toby Bedford is set to be rewarded with a fresh contract of up to four years as the Giants tick off their list of priority signings only weeks into the AFL season.
Fresh from a star tagging performance that reduced Nick Daicos to a cramping mess, Bedford can lay claim to being the AFL’s best tagger.
The fittest player at GWS has developed his tagging craft since halfway through last season and also has the lateral movement to shut out his match-winning opponents.
The Giants and his management are deep in talks on a deal of at least three seasons but likely four years.
Bedford crossed to the Giants two seasons ago as a small forward under-utilised by the Demons who used him as their super sub across the 2022 season.
Now, they would be wondering if they could have utilised him more to retain him, given his quality midfield performances, after losing him despite offering a three-year deal.
He was the medical sub in 10 of his games for the Demons in 2022 and was unused on many of those occasions.
Bedford can expect a hefty price rise after he was secured with the No.44 pick in the trade with the Demons.
His performance so agitated Collingwood coach Craig McRae on Sunday that he clapped him in a mocking fashion after he gave away a 50m penalty as he tangled with Reef McInnes as he came off the ground.
The Giants have already re-signed Finn O’Callaghan on a four-year, $4 million deal despite St Kilda’s $17 million offer and tucked away Connor Idun on a fresh six-year deal.
GWS will attempt to hold onto key talls Leek Aleer and Wade Derksen but given they are down the pecking order clubs will come hard for both of those talented players at year’s end.
But locking away the trio of priority signings will allow the Giants to focus on players out of contract next year, including Aaron Cadman, Darcy Jones and Kieren Briggs.
Originally published as Moneyball: All the latest AFL trade and contract news
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