Bulldogs premiership player Bonnie Toogood reveals the secrets behind her transformation into AFLW key forward

After two seasons with the Western Bulldogs, one that made her a premiership player, Bonnie Toogood had a big decision to make. Here’s how a positional shift, a “mental flip” and a “flaccid beetroot” helped rejuvenate her AFLW career.

Bonnie Toogood has reinvented herself in her third AFLW season. Picture: Getty Images

Bonnie Toogood was at a crossroad.

And it was “Nonna’s ravioli” that had to go.

The 22-year-old Western Bulldogs premiership player had spent two seasons at Whitten Oval but admits she struggled with both form and confidence last year.

But a “switch flicked” and has sparked her to reach her fittest and most damaging physical and mental state — as evidenced in Sunday’s two-goal performance against the Saints.

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Bonnie Toogood celebrates a goal on Sunday. Picture: AAP Image

“I had a pretty disappointing season last year – I think the Dogs in general did. But a switch flicked in my head – I was like ‘do I really want to do this?’ and ‘what do I need to do to ensure I can be the best at what I’m doing’,” Toogood revealed.

“I just really pushed in the off-season. I got an injury during the VFL, and that was kind of the thing that solidified celebrating the small wins and those little wins are really crucial to getting better.

“I had a real mental flip – ‘what am I doing here? Am I going to give it my all, or am I going to be half in it?’. I decided that I wanted to be at my best in this, and hopefully I’m on the right track.”

A powerful new figure has also been a result of Toogood’s shift, with becoming a bit of a “food nerd” along the way meaning a dietary overhaul to ensure she had all bases covered in her dedication to AFL Women’s.

Bonnie Toogood says a “mental flip” helped ignite her AFLW career.

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“I thought I did enough exercise to warrant being able to eat whatever I wanted, but the better food you put in – and the right times to eat high GI carbs … I really like the science behind that, and I really delved into that and paid a bit more attention and I think that’s paying off,” she said.

“I’m the strongest and fittest I’ve ever been.

“Nonna’s ravioli (had to go)– it was two bowls of that. Now it’s just one.

“No more mint chocolate, no more bread, no more prosciutto. I don’t need it.”

Her pre-game routine now includes a beetroot smoothie for cardiovascular benefits – an element she never could have foreseen two years ago.

But she has to be picky.

“I’m all about the beetroot smoothie – but it has to be a nice, organic beetroot,” Toogood said.

Toogood, left, in the Bulldogs’ victorious 2018 season. Picture: Getty Images

“Last year I got a bit of a flaccid beetroot, and it was a bit too beetrooty. It was really potent. Foul. But I like that now – who would have thought? Mum would be proud of me.”

She had previously been chopped and changed between defence and attack, but when new coach Nathan Burke declared her home would be forward, Toogood was all-in and got to work.

She said team runner and leadership consultant Bob Murphy had been a key ally in the switch.

“He’s like, ‘as a defender, this is what I hate, so do that’,” Toogood laughed.

“I’ve kind of got a little bit of an unorthodox way to learn it, but from netball where I play as a goal attack, I’m able to read the space and where I need to lead.”

Originally published as Bulldogs premiership player Bonnie Toogood reveals the secrets behind her transformation into AFLW key forward