Season in short:

Perhaps one of Luke Beveridge’s most notable coaching moves this season was sending Matthew Boyd to the backline.

The veteran has made a career of being a prolific ball-winner in the middle of the ground, but with a host of young Bulldogs making their way through the midfield, Beveridge tasked Boyd with a half-back role.

And he did not disappoint.

Boyd averaged 27 disposals and finished the year 17th in the league for that stat. He also ranked 12th for marks, 11th for rebound 50s and 16th for kicks.

The 33-year-old picked up 24 disposals or more on 13 occasions, such was his ability to win the ball from the back half.

He combined with Bob Murphy and Easton Wood to form a formidable trio in the Dogs’ defensive line, and was rewarded with an All-Australian nomination.

With his proven ability to poll votes, and his eye-catching form this season, Boyd has been tipped by many to collect the most votes of any Bulldog in the Brownlow Medal.

The stat that mattered:

Boyd picked up a career-high 14 marks in his 250th game against Carlton in round 14.

What they said:

“Boydy’s been one of the premier midfielders in the competition for such a long time, when we asked him to change his role this year, he wasn’t even hesitant. He was so looking forward to the challenge. We did a lot of work with Boydy about his defensive play and positioning and everything like that and he absolutely thrived in the role. His leadership down there, his work rate, as a midfielder to come back and play as a defender was just outstanding.” – Rohan Smith (Western Bulldogs Assistant Coach), September 2015