How Tom Boyd redefined success after the AFL

The Bottom Line PodcastLeadership
Written By Alexander Spencer

Tom Boyd is a former AFL premiership player and Head of Performance at Everperform. His career took him from a suburban upbringing in Melbourne to the very top of professional football at a remarkably young age.

In this episode, Tom reflects on his AFL career and the mental health and injury challenges that caused him to retire early. You’ll hear Tom talks through his time at the GWS Giants and the highly scrutinised move to the Western Bulldogs. The conversation also explores Tom’s mental health journey, including the challenges that followed premiership success, his decision to retire at just 23, and how that choice reshaped his sense of purpose.

Key lessons from the podcast

  • Success doesn’t eliminate struggle
    Tom’s journey highlights that external achievement, premierships, contracts, and recognition. But those did not guarantee internal well-being. Mental health challenges can surface even at the peak of success.

  • Identity beyond performance is essential
    Retiring at just 23 forced Tom to redefine who he was beyond football, underscoring the importance of building purpose and identity outside a single role or career.

  • Leadership starts with self-awareness
    Tom’s transition from elite athlete to Head of Performance reflects how self-reflection, vulnerability, and lived experience can become powerful leadership tools.

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