See if your question made the cut and more importantly learn a little more about the new Western Bulldogs Captain through his answers below:
Raelene M
Well done Boydy! After you took on the number from one of my faves, I paid a little more attention to the new wearer of #5, and I thought you were great! Looking forward to another great year from the Dogs. Good luck in your first year as Captain! The comparisons will come, but you will do well with your own brand of Captaincy. What will you do the same or different to Johnno?
All the best!
Boyd said: Thanks Raelene. Looking forward to a big 2011 as well! I will be doing things differently to Johnno as we have different personalities and experiences, but I have learnt a lot from Brad and will try to pass on some of these thoughts and ideas to my teammates
Matthew
Congrats Boydy! I had a hunch you were going to be the new captain all year. I'm looking forward to having you in the new role. Just a couple of questions: First of all, what was your most memorable game for the Bulldogs and secondly, what did you do to get where you are? What did it take to get here?
Boyd said: Firstly, my most memorable game was the Elimination Final against Collingwood. We won by about 40 points and it meant that Rohan Smith would get to play his 300th game the next week, a milestone that he richly deserved.
Secondly, it took a lot of hard work and sacrifice to get to play AFL football for the Bulldogs. But I wouldn’t have made those sacrifices if I did not love what I do and who I play for!
Adam 'The Mad Mohawk' Smith
Congratulations on the captaincy. You were a red hot favourite going into the announcement for a very good reason. With hair way up there myself, my question is of the follicle fashion variety.
Are we going to see any change in you general appearance this season?
For example, a beard like Huddo, sideboards like Murph, bald as a badger like Bazza (looks good on him, honest!), maybe dreadlocks like Johannissen or a little rat's tail like Zephi's? You might be contemplating a marvellous mohawk like myself. Be great if you let us all know.
Boyd said: No radical changes Adam. I’ll leave the outrageous hair styles to you!
Johnny G
Matthew, congrats on being appointed captain of the mighty dogs, well deserved and I’m sure it will inspire not only yourself but the whole club. Will you seek out other past captains like Johnson or Grant for any advice? Good luck Boydy!
Boyd said: Definitely, those guys have enormous experience and I have huge respect for them both as players and more importantly people. I still have a lot to learn in this role and will be using the people around me to help in this education process.
Ben
Congratulations Matthew Boyd, I definitely think the Bulldogs made the right call on whom to Captain the club. With the wealth of experience leaving the Western Bulldogs in 2011, how are you going to deal with compensating for the loss of the experience in the playing group, and where do you see the Bulldogs going from this point into the next 5 years?
Boyd said: Losing experienced players is something that most Clubs deal with every year but this gives younger players an opportunity to step up and fill those roles. This has already happened during the pre-season with players like Moles, Wood and Picken showing great signs that they will take the next step. With names like this and many more outstanding young players, the next 5 years look very promising.
Debra Tauschke
Congratulations Matthew on the captaincy. Johnno is a very hard act to follow but you have keen strong teammates behind you who will support you. Do you and the team believe we can go all the way this year? We supporters do.
GO DOGGIES 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boyd said: ABSOLUTLEY! We go to training everyday with that belief!
Glenn
Well done boydy! I had no doubt it would be you from the start, and I am so happy they chose you. Are you excited about your new role? Or even a little bit nervous? I wish you and the dogs the best in 2011 and hope this is our season!
Boyd said: A bit of both actually Glenn. But I feel excited and nervous at this time of the year every year, which I think is a good thing.
Tom
You aren't just the bloke who tosses the coin, but also one who will lead by example through the good and bad times. Will this captaincy appointment change the way you play? i.e.: be more attacking by kicking more goals like Ryan Griffen
Boyd said: I’d love to kick more goals. Who doesn’t love kicking a goal? But I get just as much joy out of helping a teammate kick a goal than I get out of kicking them myself. So hopefully I can help the team kick more goals.
Gareth
Congratulations Captain Boyd on the honour of this appointment. What areas do we need to tighten up to go the next step in '11? Who do you see taking on the CHF role this year? You've got a great group to lead and they've now got a great Captain to lead them! Best of luck :)
Boyd said: Thanks Gareth. I think we can get better at pressuring the opposition in order to cause turnovers. This will help us in 2011.
As for the CHF, Liam Jones is training extremely well at the moment as is Matthew Panos. Both of these guys will only get better which is exciting for the club.
Liam Fitzgerald
Congratulations Matthew on this exciting appointment. I'm sure it's a major highlight in your career thus far! As the new Captain of this amazing club, what sort of leadership philosophy are you going to implement and do you believe this year's squad has what it takes to take that extra step and make the Grand Final?
Boyd said: My leadership philosophy is pretty simple. Don’t ask others to do something I am not prepared to do myself. This and giving others the opportunity to lead and grow will be my style. Not only do I think that we can make the GF, but we are good enough to win it!
