The Western Bulldogs' former captain, Ryan Griffen, will remain the highest-paid player at the Whitten Oval next season despite walking out on the club post-season.

It has emerged that the Bulldogs will cover a staggering $800,000 of Griffen's 2015 pay packet as part of the extraordinary exit agreement reached with Greater Western Sydney, where Griffen requested to go.

Bargain: Ryan Griffen poses in his new club's colours. Credit:Getty Images

Desperate to sign the apparently unavailable Tom Boyd from GWS, the club not only traded away its first draft pick to snare the promising young forward on a massive seven-year deal, but also agreed to cover $900,000 of Griffen's four-year Giants contract.

Griffen began training with his new club on Monday after providing the shock of the trade period when he announced he wanted out of the Bulldogs. The club subsequently sacked coach Brendan McCartney and, under trade deadline pressure, went after Boyd.