Western Bulldogs veteran Matthew Boyd says he’s relishing his new role as a defender under coach Luke Beveridge.
Despite playing the majority of his career as a midfielder, Boyd has moved into the backline this season, and is reaping the rewards of the move, picking up 33 and 25 disposals in the first two matches of the season respectively.
Boyd told Crocmedia’s Sportsday program he was enjoying the different responsibilities of playing in the back half.
“The new role, it’s been really good, I’ve really enjoyed it,” Boyd said.
“I guess teaching an old dog new tricks, I guess you could call it. It’s nice to have the faith of the coaches that they believe I could play a different role, a new role.
“I really went to school over the pre-season trying to learn from the coaches and from Bob Murphy and guys who have played down in the backline a fair bit of their career.
“So the new role and the new challenge has been really exciting.”
Boyd said the club was benefiting from having several experienced players in its defensive line-up this season.
“I guess having some older heads down in the backline steadies the ship a little bit,” Boyd said.
“I guess the hardest part to learn is just probably backing myself and being able to play on instinct as a backman.
“It’s probably a little bit harder because while you might see something happening or try to read the play a little bit earlier, if you make a mistake down there it usually results in a goal to the opposition.”
Expert commentator and former Western Bulldogs and Richmond senior coach Terry Wallace applauded the decision to move Boyd down back.
“I certainly think the move of Matthew Boyd into defence has really worked well for the Bulldogs,” Wallace said.
“When you think now that they’ve got three experienced players down in that area now with Murphy, Morris and also Boyd, that really strengthens it up.
“It just makes the backline mature, he’s handling it as well because he’s such a strong player.
“And you flip that with Easton Wood down there who is now an experienced player down there as well, so that area of the ground is very, very experienced and fairly tough as well.
“I think that’s what Boyd has added to it is that physicality.”
