 In 1938 he came equal third in the Brownlow Medal, the League's award for best and fairest.In 1939 Boyall sought to move from Collingwood to Glenelg in the SANFL but Collingwood refused to clear him.After standing out of football for a year (thus negating Collingwood's claim to his services) Boyall was then able to join Glenelg for the 1940 season.