Peter Gordon details how the Tom Boyd trade to the Western Bulldogs came about

Tom Boyd’s manager told the Western Bulldogs exactly how it was. There was a line a mile long for his star client and someone was going to have to pay up. But how did those initial talks turn into one of the most talked about deals in AFL history?

Tom Boyd has retired from AFL footy. Picture: Getty Images

Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon says Tom Boyd’s 2016 preliminary final heroics paved the way for “the magic of the next week”.

Boyd was thrust into the ruck early in the Dogs’ epic six-point victory against Greater Western Sydney after Jordan Roughead went down with an eye injury.

“In one sense, Tom’s time kind of began at around quarter time in the preliminary final when Roughy hurt his eye and he had to ruck for the last three quarters against (Rory) Lobb and (Shane) Mumford,” Gordon reflected.

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“At that stage we were staring — in an away game — at our eighth consecutive preliminary final loss, and we hadn’t made a Grand Final in 55 years.

“It’s fair to say that but for his contribution that night we probably would have lost and the magic of the next week would never have happened — and, of course, everyone remembers his performance on that day.

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“His place in Bulldog history will forever be a great one.

“I’m just really hopeful and optimistic he’ll move on to bigger and better things now, because he’s a quality human being.”

Gordon first met Boyd at his Hawthorn home “three or four days” after Bulldogs skipper Ryan Griffen sensational requested a trade to the Giants in October 2014.

“ (Ex-Dogs chief executive) Simon Garlick and I had met with (Boyd’s manager) Liam Pickering about players we might be able to recruit several months earlier and Tom’s name had come up,” Gordon said.

Tom Boyd celebrates after playing in his first win with the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

“Pickering had said to us; ‘Look, there’s a queue a mile long for Tom Boyd. Every club in the competition has enquired about him, wants him and the price tag will be pretty big … but you might want to think laterally — I know that (Giants coach) Leon Cameron is interested in Ryan Griffen and if you were prepared to be bold about it, if you are prepared to put your captain on the trade table, maybe a deal could be done’.

“We scotched it straight away and said: ‘We don’t trade our captain’ … but then when the captain came to us and said, ‘I’m out of here’ we were obviously in shock … but then it dawned on Simon and I at around about the same time that, ‘Hang on, maybe there’s this opportunity’.

“I remember having discussions about whether we should contact Liam Pickering or whether we should wait and hold our nerve and see whether he contacted us and I think he actually contacted Simon.”

Boyd’s monster seven-year $7 million deal was thrashed out at Gordon’s mansion that weekend.

A young Tom Boyd in action for the Giants. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“I’ve got a massive amount of time and respect for Tom,” Gordon said.

“I’ve got mixed emotions today, but more than anything I feel good for him. This is a decision that he’s made and he’s made it with a great deal of consideration and support from his family and friends.

“I feel it will be a relief for him. He’s 23-years-old and he’s got his whole life in front of him, but his contribution, especially in that September finals series, is up there on the big screen and for all eternity for people to look at.”