Western Bulldogs say Tom Boyd won’t blow salary cap

Western Bulldogs say Tom Boyd won’t blow salary cap

Jon Ralph
Herald Sun
October 17, 2014 8:00PM


THE Western Bulldogs say their multi-million dollar deal to Tom Boyd won’t blow their salary cap or result in their batch of young stars asking for similar outlandish deals.

Boyd is the highest-paid player in the Dogs’ 89-year VFL/AFL history and is set to be unveiled in club colours when he returns from overseas next week.

But Dogs chief executive Simon Garlick told the Herald Sun Boyd, 19, was not the club’s saviour next year, and said he believed fans would give him time.

And he said the club had salary cap room to satisfy its group of burgeoning stars, even if Boyd is being paid an average of $1 million a season for the next seven years.

A considerable portion of the $1 million the club will hand Greater Western Sydney to pay Ryan Griffen will be paid early and many of the Bulldogs’ youngsters already have contracts front-ended to clear future cap space.

“The speculation around the amounts isn’t entirely true. This is not out of whack as some people suggest it is,’’ Garlick said.

“We will be able to ensure we reward and retain all our players in the way they would expect us to.

“We have made a strong and prudent decision. We have planned ahead for years to come knowing we have a lot of young, talented players who are going to require retention as well, so we think we have got it in absolutely the right spot and we will be able to manage that.”

Boyd has effectively been given nearly $1 million for every AFL goal he has kicked so far — eight in nine games. But Garlick said Boyd would not be the face of the club next year and a smart fan base would not expect miracles.

“This is a long-term investment and we know it will take time,” he said. “We have seen plenty of examples of players, whether it be (Nick) Riewoldt or (Tom) Hawkins, who have played their best footy from four or five years and we think that will be the case with Tom.

“He comes from a great family, he’s got a really mature outlook and is exactly the type of person who is playing for a long-term career and will be able to handle the ebbs and flows that come with it pretty comfortably.”

Boyd will cap off a forward line that has Stewart Crameri (37 goals this year) Luke Dahlhaus (17 goals, 450 touches) and Jake Stringer (26 goals).

Yet despite his pay packet, he won’t be the hero who swoops in and kicks 50 goals any time soon.

“I think most supporters are pretty realistic and knowledgeable,’’ said Garlick.

“Nineteen-year-old key forwards take time. As talented as Tom is, we have got no unrealistic expectations about what he will deliver in the first couple of years, but we think he’s going to be a significant player for us long term.”

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...-1227094261664

Boyd is on minimum pay next year (all newbies have fixed price contacts based on draft order for the first 2 years)

From 2016 on he will be on the big bucks.

And isn't there a new rule that you now have to pay at least 95% of the cap, plus also if you pay less than 100% one year you can pay more than 100% the year after? So if in theory we pay 95% in 2015 we can pay 105% in 2016? (posted without any research or fact checking!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Throughandthrough

Boyd is on minimum pay next year (all newbies have fixed price contacts based on draft order for the first 2 years)

From 2016 on he will be on the big bucks.

And isn't there a new rule that you now have to pay at least 95% of the cap, plus also if you pay less than 100% one year you can pay more than 100% the year after? So if in theory we pay 95% in 2015 we can pay 105% in 2016? (posted without any research or fact checking!)

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Yeah I think it works like that now.