HE’S HEADING into his fifth season as a Carlton player, but Jordan Boyd is just about coming to terms that this his life nowadays.

It all changed very quickly for ‘the boy from Spotswood’, and it’s a journey which he can scarcely believe has eventuated. But, going into 2025, here we are, with Boyd now on the senior list after being upgraded in the off-season.

With his 19 senior games comfortably the most he’s played in a season to date (and only injury preventing him from more), Boyd said there are still occasions where he runs out in front of a capacity crowd and has to come to his senses.

“All the time. There’s been a few moments where even at half time, you can have a serious meeting and it’s very serious and I’m locked in. Then I walk up the race and I’m going ‘what the hell am I doing here?’,” Boyd told the Summer Sessions podcast.

“Sometimes I do pinch myself a fair bit, it’s still a bit wild. But it’s starting to sink in that I’m at the level. That’s good.”

There’s the competitive element, where he’s running into the game’s grandest arena playing high-stakes football for one of the biggest clubs in the land. And there’s the personal element.

Only recently, the Blues’ No.37 with the headband and long sleeves has started to be recognised — and it’s been quite the adjustment.

“It is strange. You’re walking around and someone says your name — I kind of panic sometimes. But it’s pretty cool. Not a lot of people get to play in front of 85,000 people at a packed MCG, it’s pretty special.

“Normally if I do get recognised, it’s because I’m with some of the bigger players: they get recognised first and put two and two together.”

There’s one thing that Boyd doesn’t want to lose, and that’s the moniker of being from that aforementioned ‘boy from Spotswood’.

Joining the likes of teammate Lachie Fogarty and GWS gun Callan Ward, Boyd had the unique distinction of playing in the Western Region Football League for the Woodsmen in 2021, the same year he ended up being drafted.

Boyd’s hoping he doesn’t lose that at any point in his career.

“I hope it continues, I like it. There have been some good players to come out of Spotty.”