By KRISTEN ALEBAKIS
WHEN Senior Interleague coach Anthony Eames called Murray Boyd after training, Boyd didn’t know what to expect.
Eames had called to tell him he was going to be named captain of the Western Region Football League for 2016.
The Spotswood star admits he was a little surprised to get the call-up considering the likes of Tom Langlands, Matt Dean and Tim Jenkins were in the senior side, but said it is a role he was looking forward to fulfilling.
“It’s a huge honour,” he said.
“I am very proud to represent the league.
“There is a lot of players in the side I have played with and against over the years, so it is great to be leading the league to battle with Ballarat.”
Eames, who has previously coached Boyd said he was a great footballer and a terrific young man.
“I know he is not an outwardly spoken or loud person, he is someone who leads by example,” he said.
“When he does speak people listen.
“He has a lot of respect from all clubs and opposition players in our competition and also a lot of players in other leagues outside the WRFL respect him as well.”
Boyd, who is also the captain of Spotswood, said what he enjoys most about being captain was the ability to mentor some of the younger players.
He said there was quite a few players in the rep squad he had played with previously and said his main focus was to guide them during training and then on game day, let the footy do the talking.
“The guys are feeling buoyant, we have had four training sessions now and had the jumper presentation on Sunday,” Boyd said.
“It is an exciting week and we are really feeling confident.”
Boyd has had an outstanding career to date, and has a long list of achievements.
He played his junior football with Spotswood, before Carlton selected him with pick 18 in the AFL Rookie Draft in 2002.
He didn’t play a game with Carlton, but went on to play with the Northern Blues and Williamstown in the VFL.
Boyd made the switch to the Essendon District Football League a few years later.
He said his best footy moment came in 2009 and 2010 when Maribyrnong Park claimed back-to-back premierships.
“I was lucky enough to win a premiership with Williamstown in the reserves and then with Maribyrnong Park, I haven’t quite got one with Spotswood, I missed their run, but hopefully I can win one soon,” Boyd said.
The 30-year old decided to go back to his family at Spotswood in 2013 and since his return he has been one of the standout players of the WRFL.
He won the club best and fairest award in 2015, was named in the WRFL’s Team of the Year and won the SEN MVP award.
Boyd was also one of the players who was involved in last year’s Metro Championships loss to the Eastern Football League.
He said he hopes the WRFL can change that loss to a win today.
“You want to do the best you can for the league,” Boyd said.
“We really want to show the football community that we are a quality league.
“We matched it with Eastern for a half and they overpowered us in the second half, we are hoping to turn the tables this year.”
Last Modified on 19/05/2016 11:05