Bedford eyes AFL return against Dockers after injury

West Australian

13-05-2025

Toby Bedford is frustrated and forgiving about his eye injury, but warns that any player found guilty of what Lewis Melican did will "get weeks".
The GWS tagger will see an eye specialist on Wednesday and hopes to return for Saturday's home game against Fremantle.
Melican caught him high two weekends ago in the Sydney derby, and the Swans defender is serving a three-game striking ban.
Bedford was asked on Tuesday if the incident gave him pause for thought about how he plays.
"I don't think it will change a thing. It's an accident, and if people are going to continue to do that, they'll just continue to get weeks," he said.
Bedford also confessed to mixed emotions about having to miss a game because of his eye injury.
"It's a mistake on the field,'' he said.
"I don't think he genuinely meant it, but obviously it's still a bit frustrating. I thought we were coming back into the game nicely and I thought I was making my way into the game nicely as well.
"Obviously I'm still quite frustrated around it, but I understand accidents happen."
Bedford initially could not see out of the eye after the high blow.
"It's recovering well. It's still obviously a little bit red, but I have full sight out of it now, which is great," he said.
The Indigenous player is keen to be back for Sir Doug Nicholls Round and said his teammates "loved" Tuesday's cultural awareness session.
"I always look forward to this time of the year and circle it," he said.
In the same vein, Bedford was disappointed to miss selection for the Indigenous All-Stars team that played Fremantle in February.
"Watching that one was extremely hard, because I wanted to be part of it. Definitely I want to be part of that, whenever it happens next," he said.
Bedford also jokingly expressed frustration that GWS coach Adam Kingsley has taken to changing his tagging target mid-game.
"I just expect it now - 'Kingy' kind of does that to me during the game ... I will start on someone and then go to someone else," he said.
"It's difficult, with different kinds of players."
But Bedford also revealed a new team initiative helps him prepare for whoever he tags.
After Finn Callaghan visited the NRL's Penrith Panthers, GWS have borrowed their game preparation where players, not just coaches, do opposition analysis.
"We've done some new things this year, which have held us in good stead - players show different (opposition) players and present (to the team)," Bedford said.
"It gives a better understanding for all our players, for each week.
"It's not coming from coaches, it's coming from players, we all understand it better."
Bedford was asked about the possible bond between the two western Sydney clubs.
"I hope so. We wouldn't mind three grand finals in a row," he said.