The only scenario more unlikely at the start of this year than the Bulldogs playing an elimination final was the idea that the former No.1 draft pick they paid a princely sum for would not be part of the team to play Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday night.

Boyd instead will try to help Footscray win the VFL semi-final against Essendon on Saturday, while a few hours later many of the friends he came home to Victoria to play with go out and perform on a far bigger stage.

"It's a little frustrating playing in the VFL, but the team is going extremely well and the club is in a really good place at the moment with both teams playing in the finals," a philosophical Boyd said this week, reflecting on his first year at the Dogs since his high-drama defection from GWS to the Whitten Oval. "It's an exciting time to be at the club. I really feel that."

Boyd played his role in the first half of the season, kicking multiple goals in five of his first 11 games – the best being a four-goal haul against Brisbane – and providing a strong target for Luke Beveridge to build a dangerous forward fleet around, as well as some ruck relief.

After a string of quieter outings post the high point against the Lions, the 20-year-old was sent back to the VFL in round 17 where he has remained since.

"Developing that consistency over 22 games is a struggle for all young players and, being in my second year, that's my challenge. I'm no different," said Boyd, an impressive and polished speaker for his age.

"Hopefully another pre-season under my belt next year will help with that."

Given the almost unprecedented circumstances of his arrival at the club – which involved a contract reported to be worth $6 million over seven seasons and labelled a "game changer" by industry experts – Boyd has managed to keep a relatively low profile this season.

The Dogs are not the biggest headline makers in Melbourne at the best of times, and the media attention they have received this year has rightly centred on the team's incredible transformation from cellar dweller to contender under Beveridge – a situation that has allowed Boyd to go at his own pace, all things considered.

In a sense, he has gone along like any normal second-year player would, something he has enjoyed but would have been ambitious to expect when the journey began.

"It hasn't really affected me to be totally honest," Boyd said, when asked about how he dealt with the expectations on him.

"Obviously the club has been going really well, which helps," he said.

"I've found it great to be back in Melbourne with my family and my friends and the club has been nothing but supportive of me."

When fellow key position player Jordan Roughead went down with an injury against Brisbane in the final round, Boyd's name was one floated as a potential replacement, however the Dogs instead went with Will Minson to take on Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs.

Despite having not played at the top level for two months, Boyd is still confident he could rise to the challenge if the Dogs beat the Crows and decided throw the 200-centimetre talent into the deep end for week two of the finals or beyond.

"I've played 14 games this year, and obviously I had some good ones and some inconsistent ones, but I do feel like if I'm called upon I could definitely make an impact," he said. "I've had some strong form in the VFL, which has been pleasing."

It's been nearly 12 months since the blockbuster trade that involved ex-captain Ryan Griffen walking out on the club (and coach Brendan McCartney being sacked in the massive fallout) and Boyd walking in, with the mega deal that sent the industry into a spin.

Knowing what he knows now, and appraising Boyd's first season at the kennel, president Peter Gordon said this week he "wouldn't have changed one aspect of it all".

"We chose to take an aggressive stand in favour of a young man [Boyd] who we had done a lot of due diligence on over a long period of time - coaches, recruiting people, and we were thrilled to pull it off," Gordon said on Channel Seven.

"Tom had a great start to the year, but then tailed off a little bit. But we are thrilled to have him, absolutely thrilled."