Harry Boyd recruited by St Kilda

Norwood Premiership ruckman Harry Boyd has been recruited to St Kilda through the AFL’s Supplemental Selection Period (SSP).

Boyd has been training with the Saints over the summer, but officially joined the AFL list on Tuesday, January 21.

St Kilda signed the 26-year-old 198cm reigning Magarey Medallist to boost its ruck stocks, after the club farewelled experienced rucks Tom Campbell and Jack Hayes over the offseason. The Saints number one ruck is currently Rowan Marshall.

Boyd has been one of the stars of Norwood and the SANFL since heading to SA from Victoria for the 2021 season.

He’s played 79 League games for Norwood over four seasons; a career that’s included the 2022 SANFL Premiership, 2022 Jack Oatey Medal (Grand Final Best on Ground), 2024 Magarey Medal, 2024 R.O Shearman Medal (League Coaches Award), two Norwood Best and Fairest Awards, State Games and Team of the Year accolades.

The Norwood Football Club wishes Harry Boyd all the best for his time at St Kilda, and thanks him for his incredible career at the Redlegs.

While it was a tough decision to depart The Parade, Boyd said he was excited to join the Saints.

“It’s pretty surreal I must admit,” he said.

“I thought my chances to end up on a list were pretty slim to none when I first arrived at the Norwood Football Club. It’s definitely a special moment for me, I’m just really stoked.

“The move to Melbourne was just about trying to take every opportunity and look at everything as a positive. And, I guess it held me in good stead knowing that the worst case scenario was me playing for the Norwood Football Club, which I definitely knew was not a bad scenario at all.

“There’s mixed emotions, because there’s the excitement of what’s to come, but leaving Norwood is sad. There’s so many strong friendships and memories at Norwood.”

Boyd said discussions with St Kilda commenced not long after the 2024 SANFL Grand Final.

“A couple of weeks after the Grand Final I got a call from the Saints national recruiting manager in Simon Dalrymple, then that turned into a meeting and a medical, and then discussions from then on turned into the opportunity to train on and look for that SSP spot.

“I found out that I was successful when former Norwood physio (now at the Saints) Tyler Goldstone told me in front of the group. That was a really special moment.”

Training with St Kilda since the start of pre-season, Boyd said it had been a good experience thus far, particularly playing alongside star Saints ruck Marshall.

“He’s a star of the competition, I actually did play on him when I was about 19 or 20 as a listed VFL player at Werribee,” Boyd said.

“He’s a tremendous athlete, he can run extremely well, so I’ve had a good look at the back of his heels a little bit in some running, but the little things that I can take from his game will help me going forward.”

Boyd said the Norwood Football Club would always hold a special place in his heart.

“Both my home club in Shepparton and Norwood, these are such special places, and I will never forget that,” he said.

“I was speaking to Twig (former coach Jade Rawlings) after I was placed on the St Kilda list, and reflecting on the four years we shared together at Norwood. They are fond memories that I will look back on.

“I’m so thankful for the Norwood Football Club, the teammates, coaches, officials and supporters. For a young boy to move over from Shepparton, to feel so embraced and feel so at home from pretty much the moment I stepped in the place.

“I can’t thank the club enough or speak any more highly of the club. I’m very fortunate to be a Norwood person, and whilst I’m excited about the opportunity at St Kilda, it is with a heavy heart to say goodbye.”

Boyd said he was excited to watch the Redlegs from afar, and believed Norwood was “in very good hands”.

“The club is in very good hands and have an exciting journey ahead with Jade Sheedy,” he said.

“A large amount of the core group is definitely still there and under Sheedy and Jacob Kennerley I have full confidence that the club will continue to be a strong force.”

St Kilda EGM of Football David Misson welcomed Boyd to the club.

“We’re very pleased to officially welcome Harry to St Kilda,” Misson said via the St Kilda website.

“Harry comes to us equipped with an abundance of ruck talent, and most importantly a drive to succeed having plied his trade across the VFL and SANFL in his pursuit of an AFL dream.

“Alongside developing rucks Max Heath and Alex Dodson, we’re hopeful that Harry will be able to learn from one of the best rucks going around in Rowan Marshall as he looks to make the most of his opportunity at the highest level.”