Bulldogs make shock decision to release rover James Boyd

CENTRAL District has reacted to a second successive year of finals misery by cutting ties with premiership rover James Boyd.

CENTRAL District has reacted to a second successive year of finals misery by surprisingly cutting ties with premiership rover James Boyd.

The Bulldogs, committed to rebuilding their squad, said Boyd's game style was not a fit for the club's plans.

And ruckman Seb Guilhaus may not be at the Bulldogs next season following his decision to seek employment in Darwin.

Guilhaus was outstanding in his debut season at Elizabeth this year but will play for Nightcliff in the Darwin competition which started three weeks back.

The decision to cut Boyd after three years with the club belongs to its plan to overhaul its squad. A member of the 2010 premiership side, Boyd polled eight votes more than any other player in last year's Magarey Medal, only to be ineligible due to suspension. This season he finished fourth in the medal to be the highest votegetter from the Bulldogs.

"Our senior coach, Roy Laird, and James could not agree in terms of how the game should be played with respect to the club's game plan and as a result we have parted company,'' Bulldogs general manager Kris Grant said.

It is believed Boyd's reluctance to work on the defensive aspects of his game prompted the Bulldogs to release Boyd.

The Bulldogs were belted in its two finals last year and were convincingly beaten by North Adelaide in the elimination final last month.

"We have not fared well in the past two years and have to look at our playing stock,'' Grant said.

"It is our intention to recruit heavily and we are speaking to plenty of players.

"We would love Seb to stay, no doubt about that.''

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