Tom Boyd is being sledged by rival players over massive pay packet, James Brayshaw claims

RIVAL players are sledging Tom Boyd about his big-money move to the Western Bulldogs while Bob Murphy says he doesn’t envy the pressure to perform.

WESTERN Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy says he doesn’t envy the sharp focus on young spearhead Tom Boyd following his big-money move to the kennel last year.

And there are claims rival players and fans are sledging Boyd about his pay packet during games.

North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw, in his afternoon radio show for Triple M, said it was clear the 200cm goalkicker was struggling under the weight of expectation.

Boyd signed a $6 million deal to join the Bulldogs at the end of 2014 and has been urged to take a pay cut by Geelong great Cameron Mooney to help relieve some of the extraordinary pressure on him.

Boyd, 20, is one of the highest paid players in the AFL, in his third season.

Murphy said it has placed an intense spotlight on the big man.

“There is a lot of stress and a lot of anxiety in a footballer’s life and that is the pressure of performance,” Murphy said on Fox Footy.

“Everyone is judged. Everything is marked and critiqued. At 20 years of age, I really don’t envy that kind pressure on a young bloke.”

Brayshaw said he believed rival players were aggravating Boyd about his $1 million-a-season salary on the field.

“It looks to me like it was a good idea to take it (lucrative salary) because it was an extraordinary offer when it was on the table,” Brayshaw said on Triple M.

“But what has come with it, he has battled with.

The spotlight is on Tom Boyd and his big-money contract with the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

“If you put your hand out for that sort of money, enormous pressure comes with it.

“You are not under the radar anymore, you are the main man.

“And if you are the main man at 20, and you are a big tall forward who can’t find it, it’s bloody hard.

“And he will be copping it from over the fence, and he’s already copped it on the ground from some players.

“It brings with stuff that’s tough.”

Coach Luke Beveridge has said Boyd assured him he takes little notice of the public speculation about his contract and performance.

Murphy said the club acknowledges the unique position Boyd is in.

“To say you don’t talk about it or don’t mention it I think is being a little bit delusional,” Murphy said.

“I don’t talk to him about the article (in Wednesday’s Herald Sun) it’s just when you are having conversations about how I can help him and how he can help the team and that conversation we have all the time in footy clubs.

“You just know that is a part of the pressure of Tom’s world that is probably not there for 98 per cent of all footballers.

“You can try and imagine it (but it is difficult).”