Do not trade Boydy

[DogsRuleWstNoBul]

Boyd has improved significantly this season; one of the few shining lights. If he touches up on his disposal, Boyd will be an elite player of the competition. He's exactly the type of player you don't trade, particuarly in a side with a ridiculous amount of soft, outside runners who can't handle OR apply defensive pressure.

Boyd proved he can shut down players (Kerr had 13 disposals?) and also win plenty of his own hard ball.

He's very important to us now, but imagine in three seasons time. West will be retired, Hahn will be close to retiring and is hardly reliable anyway - he's constantly injured. Trade Boyd, and we're left with Cross to soldier it by himself.

Boyd, Cross, Cooney, Griffen & Higgins should never be traded. They're our midfield for the next 6+ years.

Given that 4 players at a minimum are moved on each year in three years time atleast 12 to 18 players would be new on our list so losing Boyd would just be another one. Midfield can change a lot in three years. Players to play in the midfield from current list alone next year may be Higgins, Hill, Lynch, Harbrow, Stack, Cross, West, Gia, Power, Aker, etc etc etc. Boyd would be missed but not for long.

 

[Dog 36]

Disagree with Cooney and Higgins assessments. Cooney played for 3 of his 4 seasons in a crap team and stilll shone. He has battled OP for the last 2 seasons and would still rank in the top 10 players (probably top 8). I disagree he is mentally weak, I think he has been underdone in terms of preparation.

In respect of Higgins, the one thing our other midfieldrs don't give us is the ability to kick goals. Higgins is the rare combination of midfielder forward who has a hurt factor. He missed most of his first eason through injury and this year was effectively his first real season - did very well IMO. Trade Higgo at our peril I say.

Higgins season this year was a very good one for the sole reason that he was starting to learn how to become a hard working midfielder. Eade was teaching him work ethic etc. Eade did not allow Higgins to become a HFF specialist but rather a hard working midfielder that would use his finishing skill when the opportunity arose.

Higgins will form part of a gun midfield in seasons to come.

 

[The_Bulldogs_Bite]

Higgins season this year was a very good one for the sole reason that he was starting to learn how to become a hard working midfielder. Eade was teaching him work ethic etc. Eade did not allow Higgins to become a HFF specialist but rather a hard working midfielder that would use his finishing skill when the opportunity arose.

Higgins will form part of a gun midfield in seasons to come.

Eade was pretty hard on making sure Higgins didn't sit back comfortable being a specialist HFF, wasn't he? Number of times he commented on Higgins needing to work much harder, and he's right. It'll be interesting to see Higgins progress next year. Cooney & Griff among most young players have had a disappointing year, either their second or third typically. Higgins has done well for his first two, although last year he only played the handful.

In the Port Adelaide game at The Dome this year, I thought Higgins did pretty well in the midfield. He was prepared to lay tackles and put his body on the line a few times. He was crunched two or three times, but kept at it. He didn't star, but I thought it was most certainly a positive sign and a step in the right direction.

 

[boydsno1]

i see higgis as our next johnno. can go in the midfield and win the ball but can also play forward and take a mark and kick straight. the thing with gia is that before eade rohde and wallace pretty much used him as a hff the whole time and hardly got a midfield run which may have hampered his chances of being more of a midfielder now.

 

[DogsRuleWstNoBul]

Point is we don't need Boyd and he is tradeble. By the time West retires others will be coming through to take his place. We need draft picks to balance out our list.

 

[Mofra]

Boyd is an Eade favourite, no chance he is going. We struggle for inside midfielders as is - West is slowing down, Cross coming off injury, Griff injured, and Cooney is now heavily tagged so gets most of his clearances by running at the contest when the ball is in flight (which, to be fair, most good midfielders do).

I wonder how silly this thread will seem when he is named in the top 3 on B&F night (a realistic possibility)

 

[Dog 36]

i see higgis as our next johnno. can go in the midfield and win the ball but can also play forward and take a mark and kick straight. the thing with gia is that before eade rohde and wallace pretty much used him as a hff the whole time and hardly got a midfield run which may have hampered his chances of being more of a midfielder now.

I dont think Johnno can play in the midfield anymore, he looks lost to me in the midfield. Sad to say but we have created a player in Johnno who can only play forward IMO.

 

[DogsRuleWstNoBul]

Has had a good season. Makes his price all the more higher perfect to get a round one draft pick. Should get good picks for him and McMahon.

 

[Cyborg_]

With all due respect guys I think most have missed the point of my thread. To me it's not a question of whether Boyd will get any better, or whether he is our best midfielder, or what weaknesses he has.

To me it's about what sort of statement the club wants to make to its playing group. What sort of character traits do they want our players to possess or develop? Boydy, along with his mate Crossy represents the traits we need in our team.....determination, pride, passion, desire to improve, work ethic, and most importantly a "will to win" with the concept of losing absolutely unacceptable. Leave aside what he brings to the side in talent, the total package he represents is the critical part.

Now if we can get a KPP player who posesses similar character traits, then trading Boydy would be an option but we should never consider trading him for a more talented player who has the character traits of say...Adam Cooney. I think Cooney is a great talent but I really wonder how far he is going to go with his weak mental application. Imagine him with Boydy's attitude......unbeatable.

This is not to say that we should get rid of all of our talented players and only keep those who have Boydy's character. That would be a short term disaster...but I think the club needs to decide who our standard bearers will be over the next few years when neither Johnno, Grant or West will be around.

I agree.

Boyd busts a gut out there and runs both ways. Tackles and puts his head over it. Has the courage to keep running and will actually run himself into the ground to chase an opponent. The sort of thing that should life team mates. Maybe it did not do it this year but I have a lot of respect for him and how he goes about it.
Really improved his clearance work and kicking. Used to be a link player who could lock down someone but now is clever around the stoppages and can hurt teams with his disposal.

I do not think he will ever be elite but is a very good player now.

 

[Fossie 32]

Whilst I agree with sentiments that Boyd shouldn't be traded due to his high work ethic and improvement I don't believe that he is 'untradable'

To be honest what you see now is as good as it gets (i.e. IMO he won't get much better) and his trade currency will never be higher (like the ideal time to trade Ray would have been after last years final - that said hindsight is a wonderful thing and there would have been many complaints if that happened) .... all depends on what we could get for him

He has had a good year and go very close to winning the B&F which is great for him...but lets be honest - is an indicment on the rest of the playing list!

True in a way [partly due to injuries to others]- but to put a positive spin on it, its a testament to Boydy's courage, endeavour and improvement.
And we are saying we need tough insider midfielders so why trade one?
Boydy would be one of the last I would want to see go.

 

[always right]

Has had a good season. Makes his price all the more higher perfect to get a round one draft pick. Should get good picks for him and McMahon.

So we trade a bloke who provides the team with assets we are in short supply of, for a bloke who may or may not end up being a star? Yeah...makes real sense.

 

[always right]

i see higgis as our next johnno. can go in the midfield and win the ball but can also play forward and take a mark and kick straight. the thing with gia is that before eade rohde and wallace pretty much used him as a hff the whole time and hardly got a midfield run which may have hampered his chances of being more of a midfielder now.

Yeah....it's their fault the bloke has no pace and goes to ground every time.

 

[always right]

Boyd is an Eade favourite, no chance he is going. We struggle for inside midfielders as is - West is slowing down, Cross coming off injury, Griff injured, and Cooney is now heavily tagged so gets most of his clearances by running at the contest when the ball is in flight (which, to be fair, most good midfielders do).

I wonder how silly this thread will seem when he is named in the top 3 on B&F night (a realistic possibility)

Realistic possibility? The guy's a shoe-in to win it.

 

[theycallmedashow]

I would rate Boyd as close to being untouchable as far as trades go.

Would hate to see him leave. I can understand Benno's logic, but would be very disappointed to see someone who gave their all leave, while others stay....

I go to uni with matty, the doggies would be silly to trade him, i guess everyone can be traded at the right price but he is a fantastic player, leader, gives his all for that jumper, atleast you get consistency/pride in performance..Top Bloke too, untouchable, keep him