Tom Boyd suspended by Western Bulldogs for incident involving teammate

A CONFESSION from Western Bulldogs youngster Zaine Cordy two days after a drunken altercation with Tom Boyd led to the indefinite suspensions slapped on the pair.

Tom Boyd has been disciplined by the Bulldogs.

A CONFESSION from Western Bulldogs youngster Zaine Cordy two days after a drunken altercation with $6 million teammate Tom Boyd led to the indefinite suspensions slapped on the pair.

Cordy, 19, suffered a cut to his face in the incident at a suburban pub about 11pm on June 11, following Footscray’s VFL victory over Geelong.

He took himself to hospital and required three stitches.

Boyd, 20, reacted after beer was tipped on to him as he tied his shoe laces.

The joke backfired when the big-money forward struck out at Cordy, collecting him beneath the right eye.

Cordy initially failed to tell the club how the injury occurred, but after two sleepless nights he opted to come clean.

The players said they were skylarking and it was not an intentional act by Boyd.

The Bulldogs on Thursday confirmed they were suspended from AFL selection “until the club deems it appropriate for both to return”.

Tom Boyd is on the outer after a drunken altercation with teammate Zaine Cordy. Picture: Mark Stewart

The suspensions were imposed three weeks ago and no decision has been made on when they will be lifted.

Former Bulldog Brian Lake believes such incidents can easily have a toxic effect.

“Issues like this can separate a group very quickly,” he said on RSN on Friday morning.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge this week talked up the AFL selection chances of Boyd, who has played three VFL matches since returning from a shoulder injury suffered on April 16.

“Yeah, he’s close, he played pretty well against Frankston the last VFL game so we’ll look at that,” Beveridge said on Tuesday.

“We’ll consider him, but we’ve still got to be totally sure about that shoulder. We can’t have any episodes early in games and lose a player.”

Boyd was suspended from the AFL team that faced Geelong two weeks ago and will not play against Sydney at the SCG on Saturday.

He is permitted to play in the VFL — Footscray plays Coburg at Piranha Park, Coburg, on Saturday.

Zaine Cordy was also suspended indefinitely. Picture: Kylie Else

Boyd has played 18 of a possible 36 games since joining the Dogs from the Giants on a $6million, seven-year deal.

Cordy, the son of former Bulldogs player Brian, is also not available for AFL selection.

Boyd was also fined $5000 — the maximum available to the club — and both players apologised to their teammates. Boyd also was counselled and made a private contribution to the Step Back Think charity.

The Bulldogs said the club was “strongly against any form of violent behaviour and is extremely disappointed in the actions of both players, particularly the actions of Tom”.

The statement continued: “Tom and Zaine have committed to the club that there will be no repetition of such behaviour and that they will atone to their teammates and the club.

“The club accepts the sincerity of their remorse and commitment. We will continue to fully support both players.”

Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy provided the understatement of the day.

“It’s not ideal,” he said at Whitten Oval.