GWS says it won’t trade Tom Boyd to Western Bulldogs in potential swap for Ryan Griffen

THE GWS Giants have declared Tom Boyd is a required player, saying he will not be part of any trade that involves Ryan Griffen.

AFL Round 23 Western Bulldogs v GWS at Etihad Stadium. Tom Boyd after kicking a goal 2nd qtr . Pic: Michael Klein. Sunday August 31, 2014.

GREATER Western Sydney has point-blank refused to trade Tom Boyd, saying they will retain last year’s no. 1 selection even if it costs them outgoing Bulldog Ryan Griffen.

The Dogs shocked the football world yesterday when Boyd requested a trade to Whitten Oval only days after the club sacked coach Brendan McCartney.

The Boyd deal is believed to be a long-term contract of up to five years worth around $800,000 a season, only months after a similar offer to Jon Patton was aborted after he suffered a second ACL rupture.

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GWS boss David Matthews last night told the Herald Sun the Giants had ruled a line in the sand: Boyd will not leave the club.

However the Bulldogs remain confident they can strike a huge blow to the Giants list management strategy with a big play for the prized spearhead.

It comes as the Giants try to retain star forward Jeremy Cameron and gun midfielders Dylan Shiel and Adam Treloar, determined not to set an alarming precedent with all three out of contract next year.

Ryan Griffen has requested a trade to GWS. Pic: Michael Klein.

Matthews said the Giants would still try to trade for Bulldogs captain Griffen, but Dogs president Peter Gordon says only a straight swap will do given Griffen’s “unprecedented” status.

“We are sincere in what we say — for the avoidance of doubt Tom Boyd is not going to be traded,’’ Matthews told the Herald Sun.

“We have had the Dogs ask us whether Tom Boyd could be involved in the deal with Ryan Griffen and the answer is no.

“That is the end of the matter. There are things to satisfy the Bulldogs on Griffen if they want to do a deal.

“If not, they can convince him to be back at the Western Bulldogs, but Tom Boyd is not part of the Griffen deal.”

Gordon said he would call GWS president Tony Shepherd to broker a deal, but Matthews had a swift retort.

“I am not sure when chairmen started doing deals but he is not being traded in this trade period,” Matthews said.

St Kilda has also inquired about Boyd but given he must agree to a trade the prospect of him landing at St Kilda seems distant.

The Giants will have picks 4 and 7 but seem unlikely to offer both for Griffen.

Boyd’s departure would be catastrophic for the Giants given player managers believe the loss of one or two of the club’s young stars could turn into a snowball effect.

They have seen the likes of Dom Tyson and Anthony Miles thrive in Melbourne but if the Giants surge up the ladder next year could all pledge to remain as a group.

Speculation continues that Shiel will return to Melbourne in 2015 while Cameron could write his own check on the open market with clubs including Collingwood massing their forces.

Matthews said he knew the offers were coming but believes GWS will retain its star players.

“Melbourne clubs have been into our players as we know. We have a talented group, a strong culture, a good coach and we are improving all the time.

Tom Boyd has requested a trade to GWS. Pic. Phil Hillyard

“So it’s a good place to be. We understand there are some wild offers that get made. We are happy to entertain the prospect of getting someone of Ryan Griffen’s quality but there are other ways we are able to satisfy them without giving up Tom Boyd.”

Gordon hit the airwaves to defend his club yesterday, adamant a Boyd-Griffen trade was the only deal the Dogs would accept.

“The sort of quid pro quo we’d be looking at would be pretty much unprecedented in the competition,’’ he said.

“Let’s look at Ryan Griffen, he’s just played his 200th game, captain of the club, All-Australian, one of the most credentialed guys going around.

“There wouldn’t be a player, except maybe Gary Ablett, that’s changed clubs in the last couple of years that’s had the cachet and the value that Ryan Griffen has got.”

Boyd is overseas but Matthews believes if he stayed the Giants could convince him of his long-term future at the club.

JEREMY CAMERON, 21

The AFL’s budding superstar after 120 goals in 51 games, Cameron is out of contract at the end of 2015 but has put off contract talks until next season as Victorian clubs get the chequebook out for massive deals.

JON PATTON, 21

The Herald Sun reported a five-year deal worth close to $1 million a year in August but when the no. 1 pick went down with his second ACL rupture he quickly re-signed on a long-term deal.

TOM BOYD, 19

Last year’s no. 1 pick kicked eight goals in nine games in 2014 but the Dogs have offered him a multi-million dollar deal after hearing he had been homesick all year. GWS is firm — he ain’t going anywhere.