Season in short:

After being limited by injury in 2013, Matthew Boyd was back to his brilliant best in 2014.

The durable midfielder took a step back from his typical inside role in 2014 to allow for the Bulldogs youth to step up, but his influence on the team was just as significant.

 PLAYER PROFILE: View Matthew Boyd's player profile and 2014 season statistics.

At 32, Boyd provided maturity and stability in a young Bulldogs side, averaging 26.2 disposals and picked up the third most of any Dog, with 498.

Boyd’s season included a massive 39 disposals against the Giants in round 4 but his most influential match came against Melbourne in round 15.

Missing Ryan Griffen and Adam Cooney, Boyd took charge. He produced a game high 32 possessions, 20 of those contested, as well as nine clearances, eight tackles and one goal that helped lead the Bulldogs to a nail-biting victory at Etihad Stadium.

The stat that mattered:

After 19 matches in 2014, Boyd requires only 11 more to reach his 250-game milestone.

What they said:

“Anyone that knows Matthew, understands just how professional he is, which we see as an important attribute, particularly for our young group to learn from.

“His teammates and coaches value his contribution, especially in recent times where he has shouldered a lot of responsibility – and we look forward to seeing him continue his strong form next season.”

List Manager Jason McCartney, following Boyd’s contract extension to the end of 2015.