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2019 Player Reviews: #12 Toby Bedford

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in Melbourne Demons

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“He finished with 21 games so as a first-year player, that’s a really good effort. He barely missed a training session, he’s learnt how to be a really hard worker and he’s always in doing extras. At the start of the year he probably wasn’t ready for VFL footy, but he worked really hard at his fundamentals and his second half of the year was incredible as a small forward. He was one of our most consistent players and if he continues to build his body over the off-season he’ll be on track for another good year.” - Matt Egan MFC Head of Player Development

An update on the first-year Demons

Date of Birth: 27 May, 2000

Height: 178 cm    

Weight: 69 kg   

Games MFC 2019: 0

Career Total: 0

Goals MFC 2019: 0

Career Total: 0

CDFC Games 2019: 18

CDFC Goals 2019: 11

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    That's some promising feedback for a young player who was drafted based on potential to develop as a small forward. 

    I only saw a few Casey games towards the end of the year but he had some good moments. Definitely needs to develop his body as he gets pushed off the ball too easily but is a competitive little bugger and loves the pressure, tackling part of the game.

    Edited by Yung Blood

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    • Like 6

    Always looked pretty sharp at training but his Casey stats were very sparse, even for a small forward. Has skills but doesn’t get the ball. Not sure where he goes from here. Another year may tell us something. 

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    Wasn't adjusting to the tempo of VFL footy at the start all that well but got better towards the end and showed talent.

    Something to work with.

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    • Like 1
    10 hours ago, Demonland said:

    "He finished with 21 games so as a first-year player, that’s a really good effort. He barely missed a training session, he’s learnt how to be a really hard worker and he’s always in doing extras. At the start of the year he probably wasn’t ready for VFL footy, but he worked really hard at his fundamentals and his second half of the year was incredible as a small forward. He was one of our most consistent players and if he continues to build his body over the off-season he’ll be on track for another good year."

    from....Matt Egan ..Head Player development

    Must have missed it though I did go to 3 or 4 Casey games in the second half of the season.

    11goals for a season where he played 21 games... nothing wonderful.

    Not saying it didn't happen but "incredible"smacks of hyperbole.

    Good luck next year

    Edited by Diamond_Jim

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    Not good enough at this stage. Doesn't get involved in the game enough where he can have an impact. Low possession count and doesn't have that x factor. Early days yet but signs are not good.

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    2 hours ago, Theo said:

    Not good enough at this stage. Doesn't get involved in the game enough where he can have an impact. Low possession count and doesn't have that x factor. Early days yet but signs are not good.

    Seems to be that way. Probably needs to work on his tank to get to more contests. At his size he's not going to be able to win as much of his own ball in tight so probably needs to work a bit harder on the outside to get a bit more involved and impact the game.

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    the only games of casey i saw this year where on the telly

    he did nothing in any of them

    the write-up from the club is encouraging so i hope there's something to work with there

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    One of the tests facing Melbourne’s coaching panel is how it will bring on the development of the club’s as yet untried youngsters such as Bedford, Bradtke, Jordan and Nietschke as well as those like Chandler and Sparrow who has a brief taste at the highest level. If we can get a couple of top level footballers out of this group, it will be a major achievement on their part because none of them came together the club with the big reputations of the high draft picks.

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    I think it’s naive to think every draftee should be afl ready. I only saw his televised games and it clearly showed he wasn’t even vfl ready. He slowly improved through the year and clearly showed glimpses of talent- speed, tackling ability and most importantly, a desire to succeed. If he works hard, he’ll continue to improve so way too early to write him off. Like many players, he’ll be a slower developer and may need to again adapt to afl level, but may hit the grade in two years if we have that time luxury. 

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