Article from Herald Sun website
by Jay Clark
VICTORIAN clubs can forget about poaching Tom Boyd from Greater Western Sydney.
According to Eastern Ranges regional manager Anthony Parkin, the homesickness risk with Thursday night’s likely No. 1 pick is almost zero.
Rather than Boyd leaving the Giants in a few years, Parkin said the hulking key forward would become a leader there and, by 2016, be part of one of the most devastating forward lines in the competition.
“What he will do is help mould a group that is surging and that really suits him,” Parkin said.
“He will help teammates become better players, and when you look at the crystal ball and weigh up the GWS forward line, it is very ominous.
“It might be horrible for everyone in the AFL, because there might not be three defenders in the same backline who can all stop Jon Patton, Jeremy Cameron and Tom Boyd.”
For the second time in three years, the Giants are set to take a spearhead from Eastern Ranges with the No. 1 pick, after selecting Patton in 2011. But Boyd is an even more complete full-forward prospect than “The General”.
One recruiter said Boyd’s character and leadership were so impressive, he would be in the Giants’ captaincy frame in three years.
Sidelined with an ankle injury for the second half of this season, Boyd stamped himself as a top pick last year, kicking four goals against Vic Country as a bottom-age forward for Vic Metro in the national carnival.
“You knew then he was the man,” a talent-spotter said.
While Boyd’s game may not be as physical as Patton’s or Melbourne’s Jesse Hogan, he picks the right angles to lead on, marks the ball at its highest point and kicks accurately for goal.
“He is not as brutal as Jonny, but his skill set is more developed,” Parkin said.
“So they’re different players, different personalities, but that’s part of why I think it can work so well.”
