Jordan Boyd has done it the hard way to achieve his AFL dream.
Having started his football with Spotswood before joining Footscray VFL, Boyd now finds himself a Carlton player after being taken at pick 20 in last week’s mid-season rookie draft.
Boyd’s journey to the top level is different from most.
He was never part of the Western Jets and the talent pathway growing up and has only ever played two representative games.
But all the hard work has paid off. His form with Footscray in the VFL put him on the radar of AFL clubs and the rest is history.
Boyd told Carlton media that he thought he had made it by playing local football at Spotswood.
“Then I was fortunate enough to get a gig at Footscray [in 2019] and thought that I’d really like to try and push even higher,” he said.
Despite not playing any football in 2020, Boyd didn’t skip a beat and played every game for the Bulldogs this season.
He is as surprised as anyone that this has all happened.
“It’s pretty insane. I never thought that it would really happen to be honest. It still hasn’t quite sunk in yet: it’s been a hell of a day and a bit so it’s still pretty surreal to me,” he said.
“I was in my room just watching it online and my family were in the main room just watching it.
“I wasn’t really paying too much attention around pick No.20 because I was pretty nervous, and then I just heard dad start yelling out and I looked down and my name was there.”
Carlton list manager Nick Austin highlighted Boyd’s penetrating kick and vision were just the start of his abilities.
He said his ability to adapt to new roles was also impressive.
“[Jordan] came [to Footscray] as a damaging high forward with speed, power and he’s an elite penetrating kick,” he said.
“He impressed straight away with his attack on the ball, his ability to make things happen and
just his attitude.”
“His kick coming out of defence and the way he could shut down different opponents and get up the ground and get back – was great,” he said.
“He showed us something that we hadn’t seen and we know what he can do as a mid-forward, which is where we think he’ll land at the Carlton side in that capacity.”
