Tom Boyd Retires

[Axe Man]

Re: Tom Boyd Retires

Tom kicked 4 goals in his first game for St Kevin's on the Weekend. Never say never....

[soupman]

Re: Tom Boyd Retires

Just to offer a counter opinion i wouldn't want him back.

Aside from a few good/very good games didn't think he was very good. As a key forward he was poor, and as a ruck he was fine, just like Mason Cox or Jordan Roughead or Jon Ceglar is fine.

A bit like Dahlhaus leaving while it was sad to part ways and I did rate him in some areas I also don't miss him and in some ways I am relieved we don't have him anymore.

This is in no way meant to diminish his contribution to 2016.

[GVGjr]

Re: Tom Boyd Retires

It's irrational but there's something in the back of my mind/ thinking that believes Tom isn't lost to Australian Rules Football. He's 25 now, has his life ahead of him and as much as leaving the game when he did was right at the time for some reason it didn't feel final to me.

Most likely I'm wrong, but there's just something there (and maybe it's just me).

I recently talked to a lady who knows Tom very well and she believes there is a zero percent chance he will play footy at the AFL level again. She was fascinating to talk to and knew about all the struggles he faced.

[merantau]

Re: Tom Boyd Retires

Tom Boyd is a Bulldog Immortal. I hope to meet him one day and thank him personally for his efforts. I waited from 1956 to see us win the Premiership. That's a long time. There are many things we want in life and a lot of them are within our control. But winning a flag is something that only others could do for me. It was their gift to me and I indebted to them. That's how much that month and that Flag meant to me.

[EasternWest]

Re: Tom Boyd Retires

Ahhh the pangs of unfulfilled promise ... not withstanding being BOG in a flag winning side of course.

The more I've thought about it the less and less it makes sense that JJ got the nod.

I would have had four players before him.

Just to offer a counter opinion i wouldn't want him back.

Aside from a few good/very good games didn't think he was very good. As a key forward he was poor, and as a ruck he was fine, just like Mason Cox or Jordan Roughead or Jon Ceglar is fine.

A bit like Dahlhaus leaving while it was sad to part ways and I did rate him in some areas I also don't miss him and in some ways I am relieved we don't have him anymore.

This is in no way meant to diminish his contribution to 2016.

I get what you mean - I just wonder how much Tom's unreliable body and fragile mental state limited him from reaching his potential.

For mine he was phenomenal in the prelim and GF and it was a window into his potential, not an outlier of his true ability.

We'll never know of course, but I hope he doesn't come back. He went out the way he chose to and I don't think enough is made of that.

[macca]

Re: Tom Boyd Retires

For our club and its resources and facilities, I believe we got the best out of Tom. He rucked against bigger and stronger men for someone his age at 21 in 2016, and he got battered every week. He was a forward who we tried to turn into a ruckman.

How many big man have a long AFL career in the modern game ? Its few and far between. The churn of ruckmen and key forwards is quite large. Even Nic Nat is in the eagles side after a few interrupted years. They get tried as ruck and just don't seem to make it or get moved on as they are not the next Gawn or Grundy: J.Roughead, Keffe , Vickery and probably Mason Cox . Even Jarrod Witts got delisted at Collingwood.



Whatever we paid for him was worth the price, as he put his body and mind on the line to win us that premiership. I am very thankful he did everything he could in that year, in those moments to win it.

He will be one player remembered as a legend for that glorious day.

Patton just retired. In a few years time, someone will ask, Patton who ? What did he do ? not so positive stories

[Twodogs]

Re: Tom Boyd Retires

It's irrational but there's something in the back of my mind/ thinking that believes Tom isn't lost to Australian Rules Football. He's 25 now, has his life ahead of him and as much as leaving the game when he did was right at the time for some reason it didn't feel final to me.

Most likely I'm wrong, but there's just something there (and maybe it's just me).

I think you are right and I hope that the club is in regular contact with Tom. Age wise he'd be the perfect replacement when Martin retires.

[boydogs]

Re: Tom Boyd Retires

Liam Picken recovered from concussion, Clay Smith's knee better, Shane Biggs over the party lifestyle, Jack Redpath learnt to change direction, and Tom Boyd back in love with the game. Trade for Roughead, Dahlhaus, Stringer & Hamling

[Topdog]

Re: Tom Boyd Retires

Tom Boyd is a Bulldog Immortal. I hope to meet him one day and thank him personally for his efforts. I waited from 1956 to see us win the Premiership. That's a long time. There are many things we want in life and a lot of them are within our control. But winning a flag is something that only others could do for me. It was their gift to me and I indebted to them. That's how much that month and that Flag meant to me.

I still remember reading and following your efforts to get back to Melbourne in time. Remarkable effort

[merantau]

Re: Tom Boyd Retires

I still remember reading and following your efforts to get back to Melbourne in time. Remarkable effort

Believe me it was worth the effort. For anyone who missed the post re that trip, here it is again.

https://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-forum/threads/a-ride-to-remember-and-the-experience-of-a-lifetime.10539/#post-69098

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Tom Boyd Retires

It will never happen, he seems busy and importantly happy, but if he ever wanted to come back I think we could do with a 26yo, 200cm, 100kg forward/ruck (big game player). A shame we don’t have this asset right now from a playing perspective.

Forget the rumours of Rance or Rioli, I’d love to put this retiree back to work.