NOT EVEN contracting a food-related parasite has spoiled former Tiger Sam Lloyd's initiation at the Western Bulldogs.
Lloyd, 28, is about a month into his new football life after officially trading places in the October exchange period in a hunt for greater playing opportunities.
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But the 57-gamer's holiday in scenic Machu Picchu, Peru, in the off-season – before he started life as a Bulldog – quickly turned sour.
"I went to Machu Picchu with a mate from home (in Deniliquin, just over the Victorian border in New South Wales)," Lloyd said at the club's family day on Saturday.
"I got pretty crook over there, so I wouldn't rush back, but it was a really good holiday.
"I'd recommend the sightseeing over there for anyone, but just don't eat the raw fish.
"I had a parasite, so I was watching Netflix halfway across the world for about five days, but it's all good now – the doc's fixed me up."
Lloyd's football journey differs to many of his AFL peers and kickstarted when he booted 107 goals for Deniliquin in the Murray Football League in 2010 then won a premiership there a year later.
However, it was his impressive VFL season for Frankston in 2013, after a stint with Mt Eliza and another VFL team, Bendigo, a year earlier, that propelled him onto the AFL stage.
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Richmond selected Lloyd with the 66th pick in that year's NAB AFL Draft, but he was starved of opportunity at Punt Road, other than kicking 35 goals from 22 games in the 2016 season.
The Dogs sent a fourth-round pick – No.64 at the time – to the Tigers in the NAB AFL Trade Period to secure him and he could become an instant senior regular in a forward-midfield role.
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"If the body holds up well, I'll try and get into a few games early and be that avenue to goal or I'll do whatever they say," Lloyd said.
"Being here a couple of weeks, I can already see the talent of the young players … I can really see young blokes like Tim English, who are only 20 or 21 years old, (with) so much upside.
"That was the main drawing card and obviously opportunity to play senior footy is another one."
Lloyd's first few days of pre-season were "a bit weird" adjusting to being "that new kid on the block" again, but he has settled in well and developed a good understanding with coach Luke Beveridge.
Some former opponents-turned-teammates have caught his eye, too.
"Blokes like Lachie Hunter, his running capability, you sort of see it on the ground, but you don't realise how good he is until you see it out on the track and he's flying past you," Lloyd said.
"Jackson Trengove is just a beast and blokes like that have sort of surprised me with the way they go about it.
"Pre-season is the time to shine for runners, so there are a lot of young blokes I've seen who are really impressing with their running."
