Tom Boyd says having to walk away from one of the biggest contracts in AFL history played no part in his decision to retire from the game in 2019 at the age of 23.

Boyd’s comments are timely, given speculation about Dustin Martin’s future in the game.

The Richmond champion has taken a break to deal with personal matters.

Speaking on 3AW Football’s new podcast, Footy: Then and Now, Boyd said clubs had “got it wrong” and “got it right” when it came to dealing with mental health issues among players.

“But from what I’ve seen over the last five or six years – whether it be us winning, or the way Richmond have approached the last few years – is that the clubs who support their players tend to reap the benefits and rewards of doing so,” he said.

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Footy: Then and Now

Boyd said he was regularly asked about having to walk away from his contract, worth millions.

“There is obviously a lot of commentary that you get paid a lot, so you should be able to deal with a lot, but the way I approached it is that if I don’t want to be here and it’s not authentic for me to want to stay, then I need to make the decision based on that, not based on the money I’m earning,” he said.

The 2016 premiership player joined 3AW Football’s new podcast, Footy: Then and Now, in the lead-up to this week’s clash between the Bulldogs and Swans.

He spoke in detail about his iconic performance in the victory that saw the Bulldogs snap a 62-year premiership drought.

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(Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images)