Bedford plays a Giant finals role but mum gets in the last word

Andrew Mathieson
Andrew Mathieson Published September 18, 2023 at 9.40am (AWST)

Toby Bedford put in another stellar performance to have Fitzroy Crossing swelling with pride before his mum's impromptu television performance put the small West Australian town on the map for viewers coast to coast.

An uninhibited Mel Bedford made her way through supporters in the dressing rooms and crashed free-to-air and pay-TV telecasts to join her son live in post-match interviews.

That enthusiasm could not be halted only moments after GWS Giants in another away final upset Port Adelaide in a 13.15, 93 to 9.16, 70 victory.

That brought her to high-fiving Hamish McLachlan on introduction of the Seven host at the end of the segment before later interrupting questions from interviewer Eddie Betts on Fox Footy.

While the Kokatha, Guburn and Wirangu man shared in the laughs, mum was happy to reciprocate the love back on her son's life and representing Community.

"My kid comes from the Kimberleys; my kid comes from Fitzroy Crossing," she said.

"Fitzroy Crossing is a special town central in between Kununurra and Broome. You know Bettsy, it means a lot to us.

"My in-laws, the Bedfords, the Greens, we're a big family and what my kid is doing it for our family and people, it's sensational."

The West Australian town has around 1,100 residents, but Bedford's mum, originally from the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, asked her 23-year-old son on air not to forget family when requesting preliminary final tickets against Collingwood.

"He's got to remember that," she said.

The Giants have now won 12 of their past 15 appearances in an astonishing reversal of fortunes from a once 3-7 win/loss record, under new coach Adam Kingsley.

It looked to be more of a rebuilding year for Bedford trying to find his way playing in three of the four early defeats.

The turnaround then came like an Orange tsunami.

The Bunuba man has been instrumental in the final 12 wins while only absent for one of the losses, dating back to round 15.

That sort of run of form ensured mum was not shy of confidence that GWS continues on their way and she extended that to reciting a version of the club's catchy theme song in front of a national television audience.

"I am just like the Giants, our Orange Army is coming," she said, as her son watched.

"They better watch out. You know what? Collingwood will be quaking because the earth is a shaking."

GWS appeared focused after firstly belting once-finals contenders Essendon, then finalists Carlton, St Kilda and third-placed Port.

Bedford had been set to miss the previous week's do-or-die elimination final, but after the club successfully appealed, the Giants off-season recruit starred against the Saints, and played another notable role in the semi-final triumph on Saturday night.

One week at the MCG, he kicked two goals, had seven score involvements, collected four tackles and three clearances, while the next the 18 possessions in Adelaide lead to four score involvements, four inside 50s too, and another three clearances.

"It's all just unreal," he said of the win against the Power.

"The boys ran out and just performed. We've been saying it all week that we knew we could beat them. Our pressure was just too good on the day."

It's almost hard to believe that the Next Generation Academy graduate for Melbourne, out of the club's catchment zone, following schooling at the elite Melbourne Grammar could only manage 18 games across four seasons.

The irony that he was almost surplus to the cause will not be lost this weekend on the now-eliminated Demons, after the small forward was named the medical substitute 10 times for Melbourne last year before the Giants only had to part with draft pick 44 to pick him up.

"I'm just loving it," Bedford said.

"The Giants have just embraced me from day one. They have just let me play the way I want to: play with speed, play with confidence, and that's why I am playing the way I am."

Bedford did not have to convince Giants spiritual leader Callan Ward, one of the last two players along with current captain Toby Greene that both arrived on their club's front door on day one, of the value of acquiring someone who's more than just talent.

"Toby's been amazing for us – he's just a really good player," Ward said after the win.

"But I think he's a better bloke than he is a player and that's saying something because he's a great footballer.

"I think he's been super important for us, obviously. He's the No.1 pressure player in the competition. He's been kicking goals for us too.

"Most of all, he's just a really exciting player, and what a good bloke as well."

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