Western Bulldogs forward Sam Lloyd almost didn’t have an AFL career.

Instead, he had hoped to pursue soccer from a young age.

Growing up on the border of Victoria and New South Wales, Lloyd was surrounded by all football codes, with the round-ball game being his sport of choice.

Making the trip from Deniliquin to both football and soccer matches every weekend, Lloyd’s parents presented him and his older brother with an ultimatum – soccer or footy?

Speaking to Bob and Chris in this week’s episode of Freedom in a Cage, the 29-year-old recalls his early desires to swap the Sherrin for a soccer ball, leaving his fate in the hands of a gold coin.

“We grew up on a farm about 15 minutes out of Deniliquin, and back then we were doing soccer on Saturdays and football on Sundays, so it was a fair bit of driving for Mum and Dad,” Lloyd said.

“I wanted to continue playing soccer and my brother wanted to continue playing footy.

“I think Mum and Dad were just going, ‘we’re not driving you both days, so pick one or the other’.

“I was too headstrong to say no and my brother was too headstrong to say no, so we flipped a coin.

“I never played a game of soccer after that and just played football.”

Never looking back after the decision was made, Lloyd said that he’s glad he didn’t make the final call.

“It’s something I’ll never forget, but I’m glad I chose footy.”