The blockbuster 2014 trade, featuring Dave Matthews, Tom Boyd and Peter Gordon.
Source: FOX SPORTS
You would be hard pressed to find a trade that has caused more fanfare than Tom Boyd leaving Greater Western Sydney for the Western Bulldogs in 2014.

The Bulldogs premiership hero announced his retirement on Thursday afternoon, declaring he didn’t have the desire to continue playing.

Less than 12 months after being called out by GWS recruiter Paul Brodie as Pick No. 1 at the 2013 national draft, Boyd requested a trade to the Bulldogs during a frantic final week of trade period.

It was a move that may never be seen again in the AFL landscape.

The catalyst for the Boyd trade came just days after then Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney handed in his resignation, with captain Ryan Griffen electing to walk out and request a trade to the Giants.
Griffen’s decision left the Bulldogs fuming, with president Peter Gordon slamming the decision after “peace talks” had been conducted between all parties to discuss concerns.

“We arranged for Ryan to meet with Brendan and our football director, Chris Grant, and they discussed his concerns. Brendan acknowledged some faults and agreed to work on them. At the conclusion of the meeting, Chris asked Ryan if he was happy with the meeting and agreeable to working with ‘Macca’ on an ongoing basis,” Gordon said in a statement at the time.

“Ryan answered yes to both questions and added that while he was on leave he wanted to reflect upon whether he was best suited to captain the club in the future.”
But after returning from the overseas trip, Griffen told his management of his intention to leave the club, blindsiding the Bulldogs.

‘IT WAS MORE THAN THE GF’:

Tom Boyd announced his retirement on Thursday. Photo: Michael Dodge/AFL Media.
Source: Supplied
TRADE TABLE NEGOTIATIONS

With Boyd requesting a trade, the two moves essentially became a straight swap. But the Giants weren’t letting go that easily.

“With Ryan Griffen indicating he will seek a trade to the Giants, we are in discussions with the Western Bulldogs. We have been clear with them that despite any speculation or interest, Tom Boyd will not be traded under any circumstances,” Giants boss Dave Matthews said on the club’s website.

But the Giants suddenly had a change of heart after several factors allowed for a clearer vision of the club’s stance on the trade.

“First, the Bulldogs have made a revised and attractive offer, which now includes their first draft pick, an elite player in Ryan Griffen and salary cap assistance in relation to his contract,” Matthews said.

“Second, our coach Leon Cameron has consulted the leadership group and they have agreed they want a united and loyal playing group heading into an important season.

“Third, as a club, we are proud to represent western Sydney and Canberra and it’s critical that our players share that value. Clearly, Tom doesn’t.”

WHY THE GIANTS TOOK HIM AT PICK 1

During 2013, Boyd carried the No. 1 burden on his back throughout the season, with the key forward seen as the best player in the draft pool. A severe ankle injury restricted his season, but he booted three goals in the first 10 minutes against Western Australia before he left the ground.

A four-goal haul in the 2013 TAC Cup Grand Final for the Eastern Ranges was seen by many as the performance that sealed Boyd’s No. 1 pick chances.

Leon Cameron hands Tom Boyd his GWS guernsey at the 2013 national draft.
Source: News Limited
He took 19 contested marks at Under 18 level, using his power and crashing packs. He hit the scoreboard and was able to pick the ball up cleanly from ground level.

In his debut season, Boyd played nine games for the Giants, kicking eight goals.

But it all changed when he joined the Bulldogs on a seven-year, $7 million deal. Under the terms of his contract, the key tall had to remain on draftee wages for the first year at the kennel.

Revealed by AFL journalist Damian Barrett, the Bulldog took up a large chunk of their salary cap in 2016, the year they won the premiership.

“You dig a bit deeper and you establish the fact that he got paid significantly more (after his first year at the Dogs) — on 2016 figures alone, $1.7 million a year,” he said on Triple M in 2017.

“That is because it was the second year of the Bulldogs contract, but the first year of the fresh money coming in, because he was initially on the second year of the GWS deal when he got to the Bulldogs, effectively on $100,000 or thereabouts.

“Last year, on the back of this $7 million deal going down, the Bulldogs — and I think rightly, and well done mathematically — gave him some massive money upfront.

“Now that figure’s come down from $1.7 million this year, and will be less than the $1.7 million for the duration of his contract. But it is an extraordinary number.”

So after Boyd announced his retirement with 61 games and a premiership medal, how does the trade look for both parties?

Tom Boyd retires from AFL
HOW THE DOGS FARED FROM THE TRADE

With Boyd joining the Bulldogs, they handed away Pick 6. Talls Jake Lever (now Melbourne) and Peter Wright (now Gold Coast Suns) were believed to be two players in the mix for the Dogs’ selection back in 2014, before it landed at the Giants.

The Bulldogs would be vindicated given they managed to break their 62-year premiership drought, with the young forward the star of the finals series. For some, he was robbed of winning the 2016 Norm Smith Medallist on Grand Final day.

Boyd played a crucial role in the ruck and up forward, booting three goals and clunking a team-high eight marks as the Bulldogs ran out 22-point winners over the Sydney Swans. His final-quarter goal will forever be etched into the minds of the red, white and blue faithful, putting together one of his best performances in his 38 games to date.

When quizzed months later over Boyd’s contract length, champion forward Wayne Carey defended the trade, claiming it was worth every cent as they had won a premiership out of the move.

“He made it all back in the grand final,” he told Triple M in 2017.

“I voted on the Norm Smith (Medal) and I voted him best on ground … that in itself has paid back every cent.”

HOW THE GIANTS FARED FROM THE TRADE

The crucial element for the Giants was acquiring Pick 6 along with Griffin, with the pair joining GWS as Boyd departed.
The Giants took Picks 4, 6 and 7 into the 2014 draft, selecting Jarrod Pickett, Caleb Marchbank and Paul Ahern. All three departed the club within three years: Ahern to North Melbourne and Pickett and Marchbank being traded together to Carlton in 2016.

Griffen played 21 games in his first year out in Western Sydney, averaging 20.6 disposals, finishing eighth in their best and fairest.
Tom Boyd celebrates a win for the Western Bulldogs. Photo: Michael Klein.

But injury plagued his time at the club, including a horrible syndesmosis injury in his left ankle, meaning he played just three games for the 2017 season.

griffen announced his retirement following the Giants’ semi-final loss to Collingwood in 2018, finishing with 257 AFL games for the Giants and the Bulldogs throughout his career.

Boyd’s deal continued to flow on for the Giants, as when Marchbank elected to leave for Carlton, the Giants managed to secure experienced Tiger Brett Deledio through the future first-round pick given to them from Carlton.

But similar to his final year at Richmond, injuries have played a part in Deledio’s lack of match-time for the Giants, managing just 20 of a possible 57 games.

However, despite Griffen and Deledio’s lack of on-field time, Giant insiders couldn’t be more glowing on the pair’s influence of the younger players at the club, building a culture and taking the club forward in their pursuit for an elusive premiership.

At the end of the day, it was a win-win.

TOM BOYD TRADE TIMELINE:

OCTOBER 9 2014 — Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney hands in his resignation.
OCTOBER 9 2014 — Western Bulldogs captain Ryan Griffen drops a bombshell, requesting a trade to GWS.
OCTOBER 13 2014 — GWS forward Tom Boyd requests trade to Western Bulldogs.
OCTOBER 13 2014 — The Giants declare they will not trade Tom Boyd under any circumstances.
OCTOBER 14 2014 — Boyd’s manager Liam Pickering declares Boyd will leave whether it is “this year (2014) or next year (2015)”, as he “doesn’t want to live in Western Sydney”.
OCTOBER 15 2014 — Tom Boyd is traded to Western Bulldogs, with Pick 6 and Ryan Griffen going to the Giants
NOVEMBER 27 2014 — GWS selects Caleb Marchbank with Pick 6 in the 2014 national draft
OCTOBER 20 2016 — Caleb Marchbank traded to Carlton in exchange for a 2017 future first round pick in a package deal along with Jarrod Pickett.
OCTOBER 20 2016 — GWS trade their 2017 future first round pick and a 2017 future third round pick to Richmond in exchange for Brett Deledio.