Focus on '14: Matthew Boyd

[F'scary]

After being limited by injury in 2013, Matthew Boyd was back to his brilliant best in 2014.

The durable midfielder took a step back from his typical inside role in 2014 to allow for the Bulldogs youth to step up, but his influence on the team was just as significant.

PLAYER PROFILE: View Matthew Boyd's player profile and 2014 season statistics.

At 32, Boyd provided maturity and stability in a young Bulldogs side, averaging 26.2 disposals and picked up the third most of any Dog, with 498.

Boyd’s season included a massive 39 disposals against the Giants in round 4 but his most influential match came against Melbourne in round 15.

Missing Ryan Griffen and Adam Cooney, Boyd took charge. He produced a game high 32 possessions, 20 of those contested, as well as nine clearances, eight tackles and one goal that helped lead the Bulldogs to a nail-biting victory at Etihad Stadium.

The stat that mattered:

After 19 matches in 2014, Boyd requires only 11 more to reach his 250-game milestone.

What they said:

“Anyone that knows Matthew, understands just how professional he is, which we see as an important attribute, particularly for our young group to learn from.

“His teammates and coaches value his contribution, especially in recent times where he has shouldered a lot of responsibility – and we look forward to seeing him continue his strong form next season.”

List Manager Jason McCartney, following Boyd’s contract extension to the end of 2015.

Exclusive to westernbulldogs.com.au

[F'scary]

With the Grifter shooting through and Cooney moving on, we need a huge season in 2015 from Boyd Snr. Let's not write him off yet!

[LostDoggy]

He sure can get enough of the pill but I noticed in the article they did not mention his disposal efficiency. It's something that really all too often undoes his hard work..

[SlimPickens]

They lost me at "back to his brilliant best".

[bulldogtragic]

They lost me at "back to his brilliant best".

Beat me by 4 minutes. Exactly this, I'm not sure what the rest of the article said.

[F'scary]

They lost me at "back to his brilliant best".

Beat me by 4 minutes. Exactly this, I'm not sure what the rest of the article said.

Scrooge comments. But funny!

[Eastdog]

He sure can get enough of the pill but I noticed in the article they did not mention his disposal efficiency. It's something that really all too often undoes his hard work..

Yes true that. He is a hard worker but like you say it's his disposal efficiency that let's it down. Hopefully that is better in 2015. Still very important to have some experience in the middle.

[Happy Days]

Boyd's first half of the season was actually good! He was hitting targets, chasing, and not trying to be Buckley lite; basically all the things that have tanked his career from 2011-onwards (for those of us that actually watch the games anyway.)

I'm glad he's still around and in the post-Griffiths world he can be more than useful to our midfield. Smith won't get back for a while (if he ever does), Jong and Stevens still have terrible spatial awareness, I still have questions on Libba as the alpha dog (based on the games early last year without Chris Benoit); Boyd is still of use to us and can be even more so if he is willing to compromise his own style for the betterment of the team (hopefully he doesn't have a choice).

[Twodogs]

Boyd's first half of the season was actually good! He was hitting targets, chasing, and not trying to be Buckley lite; basically all the things that have tanked his career from 2011-onwards (for those of us that actually watch the games anyway.)

I'm glad he's still around and in the post-Griffiths world he can be more than useful to our midfield. Smith won't get back for a while (if he ever does), Jong and Stevens still have terrible spatial awareness, I still have questions on Libba as the alpha dog (based on the games early last year without Chris Benoit); Boyd is still of use to us and can be even more so if he is willing to compromise his own style for the betterment of the team (hopefully he doesn't have a choice).

I thought that Boyd was good when he played within his limitations early last year and was a real bonus for the team. I was a bit skeptical when we gave him another year. I thought if we were serious about making a change then he was probably the sort of guy that was excess to requirements.

At the time I wasn't allowing for the departure of Adam Cooney and Ronny Griifen. Boydy has become a fairly important player again.

[F'scary]

Clay Smith is a huge out for us. He would be absolutely ripping it up for us in the centre by now if he hadn't suffered the ACL's.

[Remi Moses]

Pretty sceptical of Boyd being re-signed at the begining, but the departures make it a reasonable outcome.
I just hope he doesn't anoint the next captain

[KT31]

Pretty sceptical of Boyd being re-signed at the begining, but the departures make it a reasonable outcome.
I just hope he doesn't anoint the next captain

Agree Remi, was hoping he would retire at the end of last season but with the major departures Boydies experience and knowledge has become a necessity.

[Mofra]

I think we focus far too much on his deficiency at the expense of everything else Boyd offers.
When our young blokes are tired or thinking they have done enough, they'll only need to look over at Boyd (and Libba) to see that there is always someone giving that little bit extra. With such a young list we need that.

[F'scary]

If I recall correctly, some of Boydy's top games in 2014 where when the Grifter was either out because of his chronic, degenerative, debilitating back condition or playing injured because of his chronic, degenerative, debilitating back condition. Add the departure of another prominent midfielder with a chronic, degenerative, debilitating injury, Cooney, and maybe Boydy will really be able to shine next year because he is not being forced to play in their shadows any longer.

[LostDoggy]

Will Boyd now assume Gia's position as Player Fans Bag Until Immortalised In Final Season?