Enough with the Boyd questions: Beveridge

[bornadog]

Link (http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-04-10/enough-with-the-boyd-questions-beveridge)

http://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/Media/Images/364328-tlsnewsportrait.jpg

QUESTIONS about Tom Boyd's effectiveness so early in the season are starting to wear a little thin, says Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge.

Boyd was well contained by West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern in the Bulldogs' 10-point win over the Eagles last Saturday night. The 19-year-old top-dollar forward finished with just 11 disposals, two marks and a goal.

But Beveridge did not see it that way. The coach said Boyd's contests allowed the Dogs' nippy forwards to use forward pressure and create goal-scoring opportunities. The club finished with a round-high 94 tackles.

"To be honest, the Boydy questions are getting a bit tired. Everytime I get asked I keep mentioning what we want is a contest from him," Beveridge said on Friday.

"If you saw the game, that's what he gave us. Our forward pressure and everything that we achieved in our front half can be attributed a hell of a lot to Tom Boyd.

"Yeah, he took one contested mark, but he created opportunities for his teammates. If we get that again this week, that's going to be a real positive for us."

There has been a lot of interest in Boyd after he left Greater Western Sydney to join the Bulldogs on a seven-year deal worth more than $6 million, making him the club's marquee player.

However, Beveridge said the club was prepared to play the waiting game and was not expecting immediate results.


Beveridge stressed patience with Boyd. "That's a given."

Boyd is set for another tough battle against 2014 All Australian defender Alex Rance when the Dogs meet Richmond at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

But Beveridge warned Rance that he better be switched on from the outset.

"That'll be challenging because Alex is a very good player and it's another learning opportunity for Tom. There's no doubt his teammates will need to help him," Beveridge said.

"But he's a big man, Boydy, and he's a handful, so Alex will need to be on his game."

The Bulldogs have recalled 204cm forward/ruckman Ayce Cordy for the clash against the Tigers at the expense of Jack Redpath.

Cordy, 24, has kicked 13 goals in 20 games for the Dogs, but has yet to establish himself at AFL level due to inconsistent form and injuries.

Cordy is out of contract at the end of the season but Beveridge refuted claims that this season was 'now or never' for him.

"He deserves to come in and I expect him to play well in the ruck and forward and really start to build his 2015," Beveridge said.

"If you think of the way he's performing at VFL level and consider that he's had some issues with his body over the journey, there's no reason why his career can't start to blossom."

"We'll still give him some time … I've got every belief him and I think he'll go really well against Richmond."

Young midfielder Lachie Hunter is now available for selection after serving a four-week, club-imposed suspension for turning up late to a training session.

The 20-year-old was also cleared by the AFL in a betting inquiry after it was revealed a Footscray VFL player had accessed his account to place a wager on the club's NAB Challenge clash against the Tigers in February.

"Lachie has had a period of his footy life where certain circumstances have taught him different things and maybe hastened his learning a little bit," Beveridge said.

"He'll only be a better person and a better player for it."

http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2015/04/10/1227298/421656-2c5efd10-df24-11e4-9fcd-1eb8ac734e9b.jpg

[bornadog]

I am sick of hearing journos bring it up as well, but I bet they don't stop.

[G-Mo77]

We've gotta expect that though. His salary is a talking point and journos will be circling like sharks for positive or negative news. Mainly negative most of our sport journos are just gutter rats looking for dirt.

[bornadog]

Western Bulldogs out to make statement against Richmond, coach Luke Beveridge says (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/western-bulldogs-out-to-make-statement-against-richmond-coach-luke-beveridge-says/story-fni5fazt-1227298422009)

The pressure is on for Cordy, must play a big game tomorrow.

[Mantis]

I am sick of hearing journos bring it up as well, but I bet they don't stop.

Why would they?

It was the biggest story in footy during the trade period and his contract is an industry first for such an unproven player.

The blow-torch will continue to shine on Boyd.

[Maddog37]

Let them ask. Just ignore it and look for the next question.

[Bulldog Joe]

Western Bulldogs out to make statement against Richmond, coach Luke Beveridge says (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/western-bulldogs-out-to-make-statement-against-richmond-coach-luke-beveridge-says/story-fni5fazt-1227298422009)

The pressure is on for Cordy, must play a big game tomorrow.

Surely Ayce is merely expected to play his role. Not sure anyone expects him to suddenly be the player.

[AndrewP6]

Bevo should take this guy's approach to pressers. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl-media-sessions/0ap3000000464167/I-m-just-here-so-I-won-t-get-fined

[chef]

He better get used to it as it's going to be asked for a lot of years.

[F'scary]

Problem may come if Cordy does well, Redpath is tearing it up in the twos and Boyd has games like Redpath had last week.

[bornadog]

Problem may come if Cordy does well, Redpath is tearing it up in the twos and Boyd has games like Redpath had last week.

Well then Boyd gets dropped.

[mjp]

The more questions about Boyd the better as far as I am concerned.

No-one says you have to answer the questions. Just reading from a script that points out how exciting it is that the player acknowledged as the best junior in the nation decided to move to our club to play with Jack Macrae/Jake Stringer/Bont whoever might become a boring answer but I would be trotting it out every single time. I would be reminding them how exciting it is that all of those young players are signed through to at least the end of 2018 and that would be a good time to assess the development of Tom.

Remind them of the coaching he is receiving (pump up the assistants) and the way the leadership group is assisting in his continued improvement and just keep regurgitating it. Everyone will get bored eventually. OR...he will play like Buddy has in Sydney over the last 12-months and everyone will forget that he is being paid a lot of money and just marvel at how well he is playing.

[Twodogs]

The more questions about Boyd the better as far as I am concerned.

No-one says you have to answer the questions. Just reading from a script that points out how exciting it is that the player acknowledged as the best junior in the nation decided to move to our club to play with Jack Macrae/Jake Stringer/Bont whoever might become a boring answer but I would be trotting it out every single time. I would be reminding them how exciting it is that all of those young players are signed through to at least the end of 2018 and that would be a good time to assess the development of Tom.

Remind them of the coaching he is receiving (pump up the assistants) and the way the leadership group is assisting in his continued improvement and just keep regurgitating it. Everyone will get bored eventually. OR...he will play like Buddy has in Sydney over the last 12-months and everyone will forget that he is being paid a lot of money and just marvel at how well he is playing.

"Thank you for asking. I can't overstate how exciting it is to walk out to take training and see the no 1 rated junior in the country looking back at me...blah, blah, blah....great junior develpment...Play with Stringer, Macrae and Botempelii...blah, blah"

That sort of answer.

[Remi Moses]

I love the way he protects the player . Very Mick Malthouse.
He's a blue chip investment

[Happy Days]

"Thank you for asking. I can't overstate how exciting it is to walk out to take training and see the no 1 rated junior in the country looking back at me...blah, blah, blah....great junior develpment...Play with Stringer, Macrae and Botempelii...blah, blah"

That sort of answer.

We should go full Marshawn Lynch.

[AndrewP6]

We should go full Marshawn Lynch.

Like this:


Bevo should take this guy's approach to pressers. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl-media-sessions/0ap3000000464167/I-m-just-here-so-I-won-t-get-fined

[azabob]

Did anyone else hear in the press conference after the Swans game that Beveridge referenced the lack of free kicks Boyd was getting but Boyd doesn't complain, he just gets on with the job.

I love how our coach isn't afraid to stick up for his players.

[bulldogtragic]

Did anyone else hear in the press conference after the Swans game that Beveridge referenced the lack of free kicks Boyd was getting but Boyd doesn't complain, he just gets on with the job.

I love how our coach isn't afraid to stick up for his players.

I'm not sure why the umpires are treating him like Barry Hall and not like Nick Riewoldt. If it happens again I want the club to go go public with their envoy to the umpires dept, just to fly the flag and get him a game reprieve as a minimum.

[bornadog]

I'm not sure why the umpires are treating him like Barry Hall and not like Nick Riewoldt. If it happens again I want the club to go go public with their envoy to the umpires dept, just to fly the flag and get him a game reprieve as a minimum.

Sick of these backman getting away with holding and wrestling players.

[Rocket Science]

I'm not sure why the umpires are treating him like Barry Hall and not like Nick Riewoldt. If it happens again I want the club to go go public with their envoy to the umpires dept, just to fly the flag and get him a game reprieve as a minimum.

Beveridge subtly underlined Boyd's treatment this season during yesterday's postgame presser, capping his remarks with Boyd being prepared to fight his way though it rather than complain about it.

[westdog54]

Nice subtle dig at the Clokes and Riewoldts of this world

[LostDoggy]

May God help the first defender to NOT hold and wrestle him.

[boydogs]

May God help the first defender to NOT hold and wrestle him.

Yep, his positioning and marking is getting better every game, he's not just spoiling all the time

[lemmon]

And despite all that, I'd have been happy for Tom to have accrued this number of marks and goals over half a season let alone just 5 games. He's already made himself vital to our structure- we look significantly poorer going forward when he's off the ground and for someone so high profile his game continues to be underrated next to someone like Hogan. I was honestly thinking we were getting a kid who was probably going to be mostly a 5 disposal a game passenger until 2018, but if we had Carlisle up forward instead, would he be doing that much more than Tom is?

I was nervous about putting so many eggs into this key forward basket but we looked to have picked the perfect one for team structure, for his own scope of development, for current output and a guy who looks as tough mentally as they come. I could not have been more pleased with the exceptional starts he's made, is a key plank to the forward line already.

[Topdog]

And despite all that, I'd have been happy for Tom to have accrued this number of marks and goals over half a season let alone just 5 games. He's already made himself vital to our structure- we look significantly poorer going forward when he's off the ground and for someone so high profile his game continues to be underrated next to someone like Hogan. I was honestly thinking we were getting a kid who was probably going to be mostly a 5 disposal a game passenger until 2018, but if we had Carlisle up forward instead, would he be doing that much more than Tom is?

I was nervous about putting so many eggs into this key forward basket but we looked to have picked the perfect one for team structure, for his own scope of development, for current output and a guy who looks as tough mentally as they come. I could not have been more pleased with the exceptional starts he's made, is a key plank to the forward line already.

I'm loving the contests that he brings and also the development he is showing already in such a short time however if he were a 5 disposal a game passenger I'd be disappointed as he would be showing no improvement at all. We should be seeing a slight improvement every season.

[LostDoggy]

The most pleasing thing is his fitness. He is running out games. He averaging around 90% time on ground over the first 5 weeks.

I thought it may take 3-4 years until we start seeing what he really is capable of. But now I'm thinking 1-2 years.

[Greystache]

Intesresting, someone seems to have actually watched us and doesn't just want to hope Tom Boyd fails. (Or they read this on WOOF :) http://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthread.php?14414-From-Irrelevant-to-Scary-inside-6-months&p=433003#post433003)

The Buzz: Tom Boyd is starting to reward the Western Bulldogs for bold and adventurous trading

http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2015/05/05/1227337/593461-3d58d3ac-f2ed-11e4-8640-5412dd2d4115.jpg

TOM Boyd was the Christmas present Western Bulldogs fans were only supposed to unwrap in 2017. Two rounds in, after Jeremy McGovern and Alex Rance treated him as their plaything, they wondered if he would be any good by 2027. Yet five weeks into the season, the Western Bulldogs are one of many clubs being rewarded for bold and adventurous trading.

Boyd is no Tom Hawkins yet, but after the most brutal list of opponents a second-year tall would ever encounter, he is just one of the remarkable Bulldogs success stories. And arguably, he is outperforming former Dogs captain Ryan Griffen, the man traded away by the Bulldogs (along with pick six) in last year’s once-in-a-lifetime trade. Griffen will come good — he has to after a strangely flat opening where he has averaged just seven kicks a game (his lowest total since 2008).

Don’t look now, but Boyd has kicked seven goals in his last three weeks on Norm Smith medallist Brian Lake (three goals), All-Australian defender Daniel Talia (two) and premiership defender Heath Grundy (two). He has held up an end on the competition’s defensive gorillas who might have played on dynamo Jake Stringer and found just enough space to hit the scoreboard.

He hasn’t dominated by any means but in averaging 10 disposals and four marks (three inside 5), he has done exactly what Beveridge would have asked him. Griffen’s form slump is more befuddling given he has been tagged only once — by St Kilda’s Mav Weller — and has only one breakout game against Gold Coast (eight handballs, 21 kicks). Still, with Greater Western Sydney believed to be paying only $180,000 of Griffen’s salary this year and also with pick six (key back Caleb Marchbank) it will ultimately turn into a win-win deal.

It is another reminder that not trading at all can sometimes be a bigger risk than stepping into the unknown.

Link (http://www.news.com.au/national/the-buzz-tom-boyd-is-starting-to-reward-the-western-bulldogs-for-bold-and-adventurous-trading/story-e6frfkp9-1227337593694)