With more possessions than any first year player in the history of the game, there's little doubt that opposition taggers have their eye on young GIANT, Toby Greene.

The midfielder amassed 27 disposals a match during 2012 and earned himself a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in his first year in the AFL. He also finished runner-up in the Sheedy Medal.

Ahead of Friday night's Round 3 NAB Cup clash against Essendon at Manuka Oval, it's fair to say that there would have been some talk about Toby behind closed doors at Windy Hill.

Roll back the clock to when a six year-old Toby Greene stared out over the MCG, watching his first ever live game of AFL. Then a passionate Bombers supporter, Greene watched on as Matthew Lloyd kicked his 100th goal of the year against North Melbourne.

"That was the first time I'd seen a game… It was a pretty special day," Greene said.

"I went with a mate from  primary school and his dad and we got to run on the ground when Lloydy kicked his hundredth which was pretty cool.

"I always went for Essendon… I loved Hirdy growing up. He was just a superstar player who always played really well when it mattered," he said.

The tough midfielder says that after watching him coach the red and black for so many years, he never dreamed that he would be taught by AFL great Kevin Sheedy at the newest club in the competition.

"He (Sheedy) was the coach the whole time that I barracked for them so I knew a lot about Sheeds before I came up here.

"I thought he was really mean and tough but he's not, he's alright (laughs).

"I never would have thought that I'd be here so it will be pretty special to play against Essendon. It would be great to get a win against them," he said.