Tom Boyd could return to football at his junior club Norwood

He walked away from AFL saying the physical and mental toll was too much, but Western Bulldog Tom Boyd could be back running around for his junior club before the year is out.

Recently retired Western Bulldogs forward Tom Boyd could make a football return with his junior club Norwood this year.

The 2016 premiership player walked away from the AFL last month citing the mental and physical toll the game had taken on him.

Norwood president Mark Etherington confirmed it had spoken to Boyd, 23, about getting back involved at the club.

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“We’ve had communication with Tom regarding his re-engagement with us … as he embarks on the next chapter post-AFL,” Etherington said.

If Boyd played for Norwood he would return to the Eastern Football League club as a one-point player.

However, the June 30 clearance deadline is fast-approaching and any decision on playing local football this year would need to be made by the end of the month.

He is a keen follower of the Premier Division outfit and his family is involved with the Ringwood-based club.

Tom Boyd enjoyed Grand Final success in 2016. Picture: Michael Dodge

Boyd’s potential addition would be a fillip for the Norsemen’s attack in tandem with star forward Leigh Williams and would boost their chances of making a return to finals.

Etherington said it was important that the club “openly communicate our invitation to him”.

“We see the ongoing benefits for Tom with any potential involvement at Norwood to be an additional support, resource to that which exists at the Western Bulldogs.

“It was more, here’s an opportunity, whether it is now, next month, next year or anytime into the future, we have always been there readily available to support past and present players.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on being a strong family club and we always want to make sure we’re there to encourage all members to continue their involvement with us.

Tom Boyd pictured at his Ringwood home the year he was drafted. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

“If that means he comes down and helps out with some training with some of our rucks, or whether it is some tuition work one-on-one, or whether it ends up being that he plays one day, whatever it ends up being, Norwood Football Club is his home junior club and naturally we would be thrilled if he was to elect obviously considering doing that.”

Boyd was taken as the No.1 pick in the 2013 draft by GWS before being traded to the Western Bulldogs, where he was a key member of the side that ended the club’s 62-year premiership drought three seasons ago.

When he announced his retirement he said he no longer had “the desire to play or the enjoyment of the game I used to have” at the elite level.

Norwood sits sixth with a 4-4 record and has not played finals since the 2015 decider.