Pointer tossing rubbish around playfully at first (8)
I believe the answer is:
signpost
'pointer' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'tossing rubbish around playfully at first' is the wordplay.
'rubbish' indicates anagramming the letters.
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'at first' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'playfully' is 'p'.
'tossing' is an anagram of 'signost'.
'signost' placed around 'p' is 'SIGNPOST'.
(Other definitions for signpost that I've seen before include "It shows the way" , "Wayside indicator" , "this will give you directions" , "Guide, indicator" , "Waymark" .)