Tom Boyd still dealing with back injury that ended his 2018 season

Western Bulldogs star Tom Boyd is still struggling with the back injury that ended his 2018 season and saw coach Luke Beveridge launch an attack on the media, while top draft pick Bailey Smith is nearing full fitness.

Tom Boyd in action for the Western Bulldogs.

The back injury that ended Tom Boyd’s season in Round 18 last year continues to prevent him from full training six months later.

But the Western Bulldogs are preparing to integrate No.7 draft pick Bailey Smith back into full training after a longstanding Achilles injury.

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Boyd’s back injury was a point of conjecture last year, with coach Luke Beveridge attacking the media over a suggestion the Dogs had exaggerated the injury when he missed a game against Melbourne’s Max Gawn.

Instead a player who has drawn plaudits for coming out about his battle with mental health continues to battle that back soreness.

Tom Boyd, Sam Lloyd and Bailey Smith at Bulldogs training in Torquay.

Dogs medical services manager Chris Bell said yesterday he wasn’t ready to ramp up his training program yet.

“Tom has continued to suffer some lower back symptoms from the injury that ended his 2018 season,” Bell said.

“He’s got some really good continuity in his running under his belts, but he’s unable to return back to footy loads.

“We’re going to be really conservative with our management of Tom and respect his symptoms, and we’re just going to progress him when we’re able to.”

Hard-running Victorian midfielder Smith battled a chronic achilles tendon injury last year but is nearly ready to leave the club’s rehab group and move into full training.

Lukas Webb has also been given approval to step up his training after wearing a neck brace for six months since a serious injury in the VFL last year.