Another GIANT has reinforced their long-term commitment to the club, with speedy midfielder Toby Bedford putting pen to paper on a new four–year contract.
Bedford’s new deal will see the 24-year-old remain in orange and charcoal until at least the end of the 2029 AFL season.
Joining the GIANTS from the Demons ahead of the 2023 season, Bedford has quickly cemented himself as key member of Adam Kingsley’s side as both a pressure forward and more recently as a dynamic midfielder.
Originally drafted by the Demons with pick 75 in the 2018 AFL Draft, Bedford played 18 games for Melbourne before making the move to the GIANTS where he’s now played 44 games in just over two seasons to become an extremely valued member of the side.
Traditionally a classy small forward and one of the best pressure players in the competition, Bedford’s new deal comes following a career-best season in which he transitioned into a new role as one of the league’s best taggers.
Continually able to nullify some of the AFL’s best opposition players, Bedford’s breakout campaign as a midfielder last year saw him receive the club’s 2024 Coaches Award from Adam Kingsley.
Possessing a rare combination of elite speed and endurance, Bedford’s ability to play both as an extremely effective pressure forward or as a defensive midfielder make him a valuable weapon for the GIANTS.
The West Australian’s signature is another resounding endorsement for the club who continue to re-sign many of its stars well into the future, with Finn Callaghan and Connor Idun both signing long-term deals in recent weeks in addition to the likes of Jesse Hogan, Aaron Cadman, Sam Taylor and Brent Daniels.
GIANTS Executive General Manager of Football, Jason McCartney, was thrilled to secure Bedford’s signature.
“It’s fantastic to have Toby recommit to the club for another four years,” McCartney said.
“We identified Toby as a really promising young player when we brought him to the club two years ago and he’s quickly repaid that faith with some really strong performances.
“Over the past two years he’s been able to consistently produce in his role, first as a small forward, and then last year as a really good defensive midfielder who exemplifies the way we want to play.
“We are really proud of the culture we’ve built at the GIANTS and Toby’s recommitment to the club is further proof that not only is the club a place that our players love coming to every day, but it’s a place that our players, coaches and staff see as a club with a really successful future.”
The latest signing comes following a brilliant start to the 2025 AFL campaign for the orange tsunami, with the club defeating both the Magpies and the Demons across in the opening two weeks to sit atop the AFL ladder.
With the bye in round two, the GIANTS will have the weekend off before a huge test against the Hawks at UTAS Stadium in Tasmania in round three.
