Tweet
Tom Boyd’s mega deal could come to bite the club, former Western Bulldog Nathan Brown says
JAY CLARK, Herald Sun
August 6, 2016 7:13pm
FORMER Western Bulldog star Nathan Brown says the club would not pay spearhead Tom Boyd $1 million a year if it had its time over again.
The club has strongly backed Boyd in the wake of claims the young full forward should take a pay cut.
Geelong great Cameron Mooney said a pay cut would help take some of the searing pressure off the 20-year-old.
Boyd played his best game for the club against Geelong last weekend but Brown said the deal may yet “hurt” the Dogs’ list build.
“Do you reckon (Bulldogs’ president) Peter Gordon ... If he was able to rewind it 18 months and know where they are right now I guarantee you they (Dogs) wouldn’t do that (Tom Boyd) deal,” Brown said on 3AW.
“There’s no way Tom Boyd would be at the Bulldogs and it might hurt them down the track.
“One million bucks a year is a fair chunk of change. He would be the highest-paid player at the football club.
“I hope it works out for him but on face value, for where they (Dogs) are right now ... they would not want that deal right now.
“If they had the choice again they would not want that deal.”
The Dogs have locked away all their priority young stars such as Marcus Bontempelli and Jake Stringer to long-term deals.
But fringe midfielder Lin Jong is unsigned for next season and is being courted by Collingwood.
Gordon was adamant the club would not entertain slashing Boyd’s $6 million pay cheque.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge this week confirmed the club was chasing banned Bombers’ prized big man Michael Hurley.
Essendon remains confident Hurley, 26, will stay at Tullamarine. He is contracted at Essendon for one more season.
Brown said Hurley was worth a seven-figure salary at a new club next season.
St Kilda is also chasing Hurley.
“I would be paying one million (dollars), maybe even more for Michael Hurley to be at my footy club,” Brown said.
Comment