It’s a done deal. The Western Bulldogs and GWS Giants have agreed to a blockbuster trade that sees exciting young key forward Tom Boyd heading to the Bulldogs in exchange for Ryan Griffen and pick six in this year’s AFL national draft.
This will go down as one of the biggest trades in league history.
The Bulldogs had to give up Griffen, their captain, after he informed the club last week of his desire to be traded to the Giants.
Despite a year to run on his contract, Griffen’s position at the kennel was untenable and there was no chance of a backflip after submitting his trade request.
It was incumbent on the Bulldogs to secure the best trade possible for their former on-field leader.
Bulldogs president Peter Gordon set the ball rolling, suggesting the club would aim for “unprecedented” value in a trade with the Giants.
There was only one player – Boyd, a hulking forward, top rated in last year’s crop of draftees – who fit the bill.
The Bulldogs went to work with Boyd’s manager Liam Pickering and produced a lucrative seven-year deal.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Is it a good trade for the Bulldogs? Did they give up too much, or get it right? Post a comment below.
Boyd, on holidays, wanted to return home to play his football in his home state of Victoria, having got his start with the Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup, and saw the Bulldogs as the perfect destination to be able to grow with a young and developing list.
Boyd informed the Giants that he wanted to be traded to the Bulldogs and it sparked back and forth conversation between the clubs about what could possibly be a fair trade.
The Giants initially said Boyd was off limits, but, so too did the Bulldogs regarding Griffen.
With neither player wanting to stay at their original home, there was no point in either club digging their heels in and refusing to enter trade talks.
Pickering went on record to say Boyd would be a Bulldog, whether it happened this trade period or at the end of the next season.
Given Griffen’s age, he’s 29 in the middle of next season, compared to Boyd, who is just 19, a direct swap was always going to weigh heavily in favour of the Bulldogs.
Sure Griffen would give the Giants four or so quality years, but Boyd is a potential decade or more player for the Bulldogs.
The Buldogs threw pick six into the trade and a fair trade was delivered for all concerned.
This is a great day for the Bulldogs, they finally land a player who could potentially solve the key forward problems that have dogged them for years.
Those who say that Boyd has only played nine games in his first year at the club should realise that great forwards such as Nick Riewoldt (six games), Jonathan Brown (13) and Tom Hawkins (nine) only had limited exposure in their first year and it takes time for all key position players to develop.
Boyd will be unveiled by the Bulldogs next week.
Make no mistake, Boyd is a coup for the Bulldogs. The seven-year deal will see him at the kennel in his prime.
The word from the clubs …
Simon Garlick – Western Bulldogs chief executive
“We are delighted to have secured a player and young man of Tom’s calibre.
“To attrack last year’s number one draft pick and stand-out elite player of the class of 2013 to the kennel is a major coup.
“We know our supporters will be thrilled to see Tom play alongside the likes of Liberatore, Roughead, Wallis, Bontempelli, Macrae, Stringer, Dahlhaus, Johannisen, Hunter, Hrovat, Smith, Roberts and Talia, not to mention Minson, Murphy, Morris, and Boyd and the rest of our dedicated playing group.”
David Matthews – GWS Giants chief executive
“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.
“Our coach Leon Cameron has consulted the leadership group and they have agreed they want a unified and loyal playing group heading into an important season in 2015.
“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 and the best course of action is for him to leave the club.
“We are delighted to have Ryan Griffen at the club. He is not only a great talent but a person with strong values and brings more experience and maturity to the list.”
<a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/8375519/”>Who won out of the Tom Boyd/Ryan Griffen trade?</a>
