Tom Boyd kicks two goals in local footy return for Norwood after recent AFL retirement

He copped the odd heckle and conditions were an “extreme taste of suburban footy, but Tom Boyd relished his return to junior club Norwood on Saturday.

Tom Boyd celebrates with teammates after kicking a goal on his return to Norwood.

“A really enjoyable experience” was how Tom Boyd described his return to football yesterday.

Boyd, 23, walked away from the AFL and a career at the Western Bulldogs earlier this year, citing the mental and physical toll the game had taken on his body and mind.

The Bulldogs’ 2016 Grand Final hero was back playing local football with his junior club, Norwood, in the Eastern Football League.

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Boyd kicked two goals, took a big pack mark in the third quarter and got the full suburban football experience in the Premier Division clash against North Ringwood.

Boyd nailed Norwood’s first goal of the game and was mobbed by teammates. He slotted his second major early in the final term to help put the seal on the Norsemen’s fifth win of the season.

Tom Boyd celebrates with teammates after kicking a goal on his return to Norwood.

He said playing with mates and completing a business degree would help give his life structure.

“I just felt like I’d given up the desire to want to play at the highest level,” Boyd said.

“For a big part, the rigours of AFL, mainly through the week and the ability to just get out there playing footy, is not the same as it used to be for me.

“To get back to the purest form of footy at the Eastern level — the local level — is really important and I’ve always enjoyed it.”

Supporters followed him from one end of the ground to the other in each term and he was placed in the middle of the circle to sing the team song.

Tom Boyd opens his Norwood account with a first-quarter snap.

Tom Boyd competes with a North Ringwood defender in a marking contest.

“A few of the reserves boys were looking after me knowing North Ringwood can be a bit of an adverse crowd at times,” Boyd said.

“To be honest, all the crowd today was really supportive. There was a few bits of heckling out there but nothing untoward, which was really nice to see. We obviously want to come to the footy and have a good time.

“As long as they keep it PG rated, we’ll be happy.”

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Conditions at Quambee Reserve were hardly what you would find at Marvel Stadium or the MCG.

It was a slog for the afternoon and heavy rain made for a scrappy contest.

“It was good to get out there and ultimately I got the real extreme taste of suburban footy and it was a really enjoyable experience to get the win,” Boyd said.

“It’s somewhere I’ve spent a lot of time around the last six or seven years, obviously not being out there but being around the place with my old man and family.

“To many people at the club, I’ve always been here and it was good to pull the colours back on.”