AFL 2024: GWS plan bolstered by Toby Bedford, Brent Daniels fitness

GWS vice-captain Josh Kelly is confident the Giants can avoid a trough like the last time they pushed deep into September and says a pair of speedsters entering 2024 off uninterrupted pre-seasons could help them take a step forward.

Half-forward duo Brent Daniels and Toby Bedford both dealt with significant hamstring injuries last season but were still among the Giants’ most important players in their run towards the finals as they embraced Adam Kingsley’s high-octane game plan.

Both were recognised for their impact when they were last week added to the Giants’ second-tier “emerging leaders” group, and Kelly said the ability of both to train fully this pre-season had excited teammates and could help both improve on last year.

Daniels booted 26 goals and finished in the top 10 of the Giants’ best and fairest despite missing five games in the middle of the season with a hamstring injury, while Bedford, in his first season after moving from Melbourne, made a delayed start to the season in round 7 but

went on to lay more forward 50 tackles than any other player who played multiple games.

Kelly said he was rapt with the form of the pair heading into Saturday week’s preliminary final rematch against Collingwood.

“They’re in really good nick. Those two players are hugely important to how we play, and they’re hugely talented as well,” Kelly said.

“They’re able to hit the scoreboard, they’re able to defend as well, so they’re a huge part of what we’re trying to do.”

The co-vice-captain said Kingsley had made little reference to the Giants’ disappointing rebound from the 2019 grand final loss when planning for this season, but he was acutely aware returning to the finals would not be an “automatic” process.

“We haven’t really referenced 2019, we definitely referenced the prelim last year and how close we came,” Kelly said.

“There’s definitely a belief that having got to where we did last year and the type of footy we played, there’s definitely belief we can go and do that again … but at the same time, we’re wary that it doesn’t just happen.”

Kelly said second-year midfielder Harry Rowston was among the Giants’ most impressive young players over the pre-season, but while competition for spots was high he didn’t expect veteran Callan Ward to give up his spot in the middle.

The 33-year-old spent the first half of last season playing mostly forward and was relegated to the sub role in rounds 9 and 10, but was a key part of the Giants’ resurgence as he was reintroduced to the midfield and found his best form.

Ward was among the Giants’ best in the tough away semi-final win over Port Adelaide as he had 24 disposals and six clearances.

“(Rowston) has had a fantastic pre-season, we’ve got a lot of guys who are competing for spots and are in really good form,” Kelly said.

“You want competition for spots to keep everyone on edge a bit … as for Wardy though, I think he’s doing just fine.

“He just doesn’t age, he’s always playing really good footy and feeling good – I’m excited to see what he produces this year.”