Trimmed-down Tom Boyd feeling more mobile - ( EXCITING )

[westdog54]

3kg is a fair amount of weight to lose in an elite environment, especially if you've been changing your body profile towards higher muscle mass in the process. A hard preseason in the gym on a lean but large player can result in a gain of 3-4kg's, so if Boyd has managed to lose three kg's and has noticeably increased his muscle mass then he must have been a regular butter ball last year relative to others in the system.

It's easy to ping this on GWS's management of him, but I suspect a fair bit of it had to do with Boyd's attitude towards football and his environment.

Then why did he play 9 games if he wasn't doing what was expected of him?

[jeemak]

Then why did he play 9 games if he wasn't doing what was expected of him?

Sometimes people aren't happy and it affects their ability to learn new concepts and disciplines, and this is a fairly common theme across draftees who move interstate. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them, or that they're not trying to do the right thing.

[LostDoggy]

Sometimes people aren't happy and it affects their ability to learn new concepts and disciplines, and this is a fairly common theme across draftees who move interstate. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them, or that they're not trying to do the right thing.

It certainly seems to be the case. It amazes me sometimes because I, as a 19 year old, simply couldn't wait to get out from underneath the family umbrella and deliberately picked WA as a preferred posting due to the distance from Victoria. Wanted to get out on my own steam. I did eventually return home to Victoria for greater job opportunities but I certainly wasn't under-performing or unhappy when I was in WA, quite the opposite. I revelled in the freedom and independence.

Kids these days, eh? Maybe they've got better families and friend circles than I do.

[hujsh]

It certainly seems to be the case. It amazes me sometimes because I, as a 19 year old, simply couldn't wait to get out from underneath the family umbrella and deliberately picked WA as a preferred posting due to the distance from Victoria. Wanted to get out on my own steam. I did eventually return home to Victoria for greater job opportunities but I certainly wasn't under-performing or unhappy when I was in WA, quite the opposite. I revelled in the freedom and independence.

Kids these days, eh? Maybe they've got better families and friend circles than I do.

It's not a generational change in attitude but just a different environment. More people are expected to go to uni which takes time and there are less and less full or part time jobs unless you are experienced in the role. The workforce has been increasingly casualised

[Twodogs]

3kg is a fair amount of weight to lose in an elite environment, especially if you've been changing your body profile towards higher muscle mass in the process. A hard preseason in the gym on a lean but large player can result in a gain of 3-4kg's, so if Boyd has managed to lose three kg's and has noticeably increased his muscle mass then he must have been a regular butter ball last year relative to others in the system.

It's easy to ping this on GWS's management of him, but I suspect a fair bit of it had to do with Boyd's attitude towards football and his environment.

I completely unserstand his point of view. I couldn't live or be at my best in Sydney. The place just doesn't appeal to me. No offence to people who live in Sydney or anything, it's me not Sydney I'm sure.

Albury has the same effect on me.

[F'scary]

I completely unserstand his point of view. I couldn't live or be at my best in Sydney. The place just doesn't appeal to me. No offence to people who live in Sydney or anything, it's me not Sydney I'm sure.

Albury has the same effect on me.

You can't underestimate homesickness.

[Twodogs]

You can't underestimate homesickness.

I understand he has a strong network of family and friends. The club will be the beneficiary of having him back and settled amongst it.

[dog town]

Are we all convinced lighter is the way to go for Boyd? I haven't made up my mind on it yet but he is never going to be an elite runner or beat guys with his agility. He is going to be your Kurt Tippett/Tom Hawkins style beast. Obviously he can get stronger without getting heavier but it will be interesting to see if in 2 years time we are debating whether he should just go the other way and get huge.

[bulldogtragic]

I think some of the weight was puppy fat, but he will continue to get stronger, harder, fitter and better and not carrying excess weight will help that. His contested gather and handball to Honeychurch for the last goal was even better on the replay. There's a lot to love over a long career ahead.

[bornadog]

I think some of the weight was puppy fat, but he will continue to get stronger, harder, fitter and better and not carrying excess weight will help that. His contested gather and handball to Honeychurch for the last goal was even better on the replay. There's a lot to love over a long career ahead.

13 disposals is not bad for a big forward, even though he did spend some time in the ruck. I happy with what I saw for a practice match.

[bulldogtragic]

13 disposals is not bad for a big forward, even though he did spend some time in the ruck. I happy with what I saw for a practice match.

Yep, his non stats were the good thing. Presence in the air, strong on his feet, happy to contest for the footy, ability and want to run. Apparently you can't teach these things to some tall kids, or so a long list of failed talls of ours proved, so that's good to see.

[lemmon]

Yep, his non stats were the good thing. Presence in the air, strong on his feet, happy to contest for the footy, ability and want to run. Apparently you can't teach these things to some tall kids, or so a long list of failed talls of ours proved, so that's good to see.

Completely agree, that was the most encouraging thing for mine. At one point in the third he was contesting a long kick deep forward against three defenders with one holding him out of the contest allowing Dylan Grimes to come back and take the mark.
This brought a few groans but it was a huge positive in my mind, he was drawing a big crowd already and 7 times out of 10 he'll be able to get to that contest, hit the body and that ball spills where our numbers should be.

If this is his standard game across the season I'll be pretty content with that, solid contributions while continuing to flash those 'big paws on a puppy' moments

[josie]

Completely agree, that was the most encouraging thing for mine. At one point in the third he was contesting a long kick deep forward against three defenders with one holding him out of the contest allowing Dylan Grimes to come back and take the mark.
This brought a few groans but it was a huge positive in my mind, he was drawing a big crowd already and 7 times out of 10 he'll be able to get to that contest, hit the body and that ball spills where our numbers should be.

If this is his standard game across the season I'll be pretty content with that, solid contributions while continuing to flash those 'big paws on a puppy' moments

Love the analogy Lemmon - gonna use this myself.

[bulldogtragic]

Completely agree, that was the most encouraging thing for mine. At one point in the third he was contesting a long kick deep forward against three defenders with one holding him out of the contest allowing Dylan Grimes to come back and take the mark.
This brought a few groans but it was a huge positive in my mind, he was drawing a big crowd already and 7 times out of 10 he'll be able to get to that contest, hit the body and that ball spills where our numbers should be.

If this is his standard game across the season I'll be pretty content with that, solid contributions while continuing to flash those 'big paws on a puppy' moments

Over time this will be massive. I recall a few times yesterday where I wanted Redpath and a roughy to be further away to split the defenders. If two or three defenders are required over the years to stop him, the likes of Dickson/Grant need to get free and hurt with less checking.

[lemmon]

Love the analogy Lemmon - gonna use this myself.

I stole it myself from The Wire!