Needs to be his choice not his Dad's or his old club.
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Needs to be his choice not his Dad's or his old club.
I wouldn't be going back if I were Tom. He would be better off moving forward with his life, not finding himself comfort zones that he's happy in. That's how people like us get into strife.
Take some time out Tom. Then decide what the next chapter of your life should entail.
Tom today announced (via Instagram) his engagement. Best wishes to them both.
Boyd comeback: Retired Dogs hero given all-clear to play local footy
TOM Boyd has been given the all-clear to play suburban football with mates at Norwood in the Eastern Football League.
The 2016 Western Bulldogs premiership hero retired from the AFL last month, due to mental health and problems with his back.
This week he officially requested the AFL to rescind his registration with the Bulldogs, and it is believed the AFL has granted that wish, freeing him to apply for registration in the EFL, the No.1 Victorian metropolitan league.
Even before his retirement from the Bulldogs, Boyd, 23, was in the Norwood rooms after a recent win, celebrating with his mates at the club.
While he could receive a hastened clearance to play for Norwood as early as this weekend, he may choose to have a few training sessions with the club before resuming playing.
Norwood, coached by AFL player agent Marty Pask, is sitting in the top five after eight rounds.
Good on him.
Hope you find footy fun again Tom.
Whilst I do wish Tom the best, and genuinely feel for him with the demons that he’s struggling with, I’m also having a hard time right now reconciling Tom’s announcement to play locally at Norwood with my own emotions following his amicable departure from the Club. That is, I know that the right answer is to wish the best for him in his new journey but I’m also conflicted by the loss that we’re dealing with given our emotional investment in Tom to be that big key target that we’ve been crying out for. On the other hand Tom was such a significant factor for us in those 2 days in late September 2016 that I should just simply be thankful and move on.
No doubt these feelings are compounded by our current form line, our seemingly lack of quality assistant coaches, the departures of much loved players in Roughy, Picko and Clay, and once much loved players in Dahl and Stringer, and Adams not coming good for us and now hearing tonight that Lin is needing to take a break from the game due to his own mental illness.
It’s been a tough season thus far for so many and can understand why some of the lads might also be feeling a bit flat.
I’m with you. We invest a lot emotionally in the players. I feel sad that Tom might enjoy local footy more than the apparent kudos of the big time. I have wondered if given how young he is, we could have somehow negotiated for him to take a full 12 months off, and see how he felt then, but I guess things just got too far.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if Tom played AFL again. With no big contract on his head he would find it more palatable.