Shai Bolton

Shai Bolton
Bolton playing for Richmond in June 2017
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-12-08) 8 December 1998
Original team(s) South Fremantle (WAFL)
Draft No. 29, 2016 national draft
Debut Round 9, 2017, Richmond
vs. Greater Western Sydney, at Spotless Stadium
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 76 kg (168 lb)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 29
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2017– Richmond 9 (4)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2018 season.
Career highlights

VFL

  • VFL grand finalist: 2017
  • VFL Goal of the Year: 2018
  • VFL Mark of the Year: 2018
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Shai Bolton (/ʃeɪ/ sh-AY; born 8 December 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the son of former Fremantle player, Darren Bolton.

Junior football and early life

Bolton grew up in Forrestdale, Western Australia, in Perth's southern suburbs.[1] He comes from strong footballing stocks, with father Darren a former Fremantle player and Peel Thunder best & fairest winner and his uncle Allistair Pickett a two-time Sandover Medalist.[2][3]

In 2013 Bolton entered the elite talent pathway when he joined the Flying Boomerangs Indigenous Academy.[2] He began playing underage football with WAFL club South Fremantle the following year.[2] Bolton was sidelined for much of his 2015 season however after suffering stress fractures in his back.[1] In his final season (2016) at the club he averaged 17 disposals and two goals per game, including a seven-goal performance against East Perth.[2]

He represented Western Australia at the 2016 AFL Under 18 Championships, kicking five goals in the tournament.[1]

Bolton attended high school at Wesley College in Perth.[2]

Prior to the 2016 national draft, Bolton was praised for his "blazing speed" and "natural instinct for the game."[1] He impressed recruiters in October's pre-draft All Stars game at Punt Road Oval, recording 16 disposals, seven inside 50s and a goal.[1] He placed second in the running vertical jump test at the national draft combine that year.[1]

AFL career

Bolton was drafted by Richmond with the club's first pick and the 29th selection overall in the 2016 national draft.[2]

Bolton kicks during play in round 13, 2017

Before the season had even officially began, Bolton was charged with striking Tom Williamson in a VFL practice match against the Northern Blues.[4] He subsequently accepted a one-match ban.[5] Bolton made his AFL debut in round 9, 2017 in a match against Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium and taking the place of the injured Dan Butler in the Richmond forward-line.[6] At 18 years and 163 days, he was the youngest player to debut for Richmond since captain Trent Cotchin in the 2008 season.[7] He was thought to have kicked a match-winning goal in the final two minutes of the match, before an automatic review overturned the umpire's on-field decision and ruled the kick touched off the boot.[8][9] Bolton played in each of the next two matches before Richmond's bye week in round 12.[10] To that point he ranked fourth in the AFL for forward half pressure.[11] In round 13 Bolton turned in an impressive first half against Sydney, racking up 12 disposals and two goals to half time. Though he did not finish strongly, it was nevertheless an "impressive" performance.[12][13] His 13 'crumbs' in that match also tied the record for the four-year old stat set by Sydney's Josh Kennedy in 2016.[14] He was rested from the club's AFL side in round 15 however, after backing up that match with a four disposal game against Carlton.[15][16] Bolton returned to senior football in round 19 when he replaced the injured Jack Riewoldt, creating a forward-line without a recognised tall forward.[17] He was dropped after just one match however, returning to the VFL to play out his season with the reserves.[18] His performances at this level were labelled "above the level" by coach Craig McRae with media pundits suggesting he was close to a call-up to senior level during the AFL finals series.[19][20] Despite this talk he would remain in the reserves, playing in each of the team's three victories as well as in their losing grand final against Port Melbourne.[21] Champion Data figures released at the end of September showed Bolton as the second quickest player at Richmond and one of the 15 quickest in the AFL, after he set a top speed of 34.8 kilometres per hour in an in-match sprint during the season.[22] Bolton finished the 2017 season having played six matches and kicked three goals at senior level.[10] He also played 14 matches in the reserves and kicked 23 goals, good for the fourth most at the club.[23]

With premiership small forward Daniel Rioli still recovering from a serious foot injury, Bolton came out of a fitness-building off-season and straight into Richmond's senior forward line.[24] He played in both of the club's official pre-season matches, including a three-goal tally in that series' first match against Essendon.[25] On the back of those performances he was selected to play in the round 1 season-opener against Carlton.[26] Bolton was relatively ineffectual over the season's first two matches however, recording only three tackles and one goal in total and was subsequently dropped from Richmond's round 3 side.[27] Despite his inability to impact at senior level, Bolton was immediately impressive in his first reserves match of the season, kicking three goals in Richmond's VFL win over Port Melbourne.[28] He remained at the lower level for a further six weeks until suffering a match-ending corked quad in the third quarter of a VFL win over Sandringham in late May.[29] The club was cautious with Bolton's injury, resting him from match play for one week.[30] Upon his return to VFL football he recorded 17 disposals while being trialed in limited midfield minutes.[31] The following week Bolton kicked two goals against Williamstown but was most notable for a spectacular mark that saw him earn the VFL's Mark of the Year award at season's end.[32][33] He would also earn the competition's Goal of the Year when he scored from the forward pocket after repeatedly shrugging tackles during a match against the Essendon reserves in early July.[34][33] The goal, along with 22 disposals and eight tackles recorded in that win saw Bolton earn a second chance at AFL football in 2018.[35] It would last just one match however, with Bolton immediately dropped back to VFL level following a goalless nine disposal performance in the round 17 loss to Greater Western Sydney.[10][36] In his first two matches back at VFL level he was tried successfully in a half-back role, collecting 24 disposals while also rotating through the midfield in the second match of that short stretch.[37][38] The experiment would not last long however, with Bolton sustaining a minor knee injury while training with the club in late July.[39] Continued soreness in the joint saw Bolton undergo an arthroscope procedure, including a clean-up of the tissue around his meniscus.[40][41] Bolton did not return to football in 2018, despite club officials earlier stating that he was likely to return in time for the VFL finals series.[40][42][43] He finished the year having played three matches at AFL level and a further 13 with the club's reserves side in the VFL.[10][44]

Bolton signed a new one-year contract with Richmond in the month following the end of the 2018 season, re-committing despite having previously put contract negotiations on hold during the season itself.[45][46][47]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2018 season[10]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
2017 Richmond 2963426255112150.50.74.34.28.52.02.5
2018 Richmond 29311111425640.30.33.74.78.32.01.3
Career 9 4 5 37 39 76 18 19 0.4 0.6 4.1 4.3 8.4 2.0 2.1

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guthrie, Ben (15 November 2016). "'He does things I've never seen': Why Shai Bolton stands out". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Tigers land Shai Bolton". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  3. ↑ Nicholson, Larissa (14 November 2016). "Draft hopeful Shai Bolton wants to follow in Cyril Rioli's footsteps". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  4. ↑ Ralph, Jon (24 March 2017). "Shai Bolton faces VFL suspension after scuffle in VFL practice match against Carlton". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  5. ↑ Schmook, Nathan (30 March 2017). "Bolton to serve VFL ban". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. AFL Media. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  6. ↑ Vaughan, Roger (18 May 2017). "Tigers swing AFL changes after Freo los". The West Australian. Yahoo!7. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  7. ↑ "Richmond - All Time Player List". AFL Tables. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  8. ↑ Sygall, David (20 May 2017). "Proud Hardwick has 'absolute belief' in Tigers". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  9. ↑ "Richmond blow five-goal lead in last-minute loss to Giants". The West Australian. Yahoo!7. AAP. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Shai Bolton". AFL Tables. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  11. ↑ Ralph, Jon (4 June 2017). "Richmond's small forwards are proving the difference and could deliver elusive finals victories". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  12. ↑ "Round 13 2017, Richmond v Sydney". AFL Tables. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  13. ↑ Beveridge, Riley (17 June 2017). "Lance Franklin and Alex Rance match-up, David Astbury shines down back, Shai Bolton impressive". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  14. ↑ McGowan, Marc (29 December 2017). "Game stats records matched or broken in 2017". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  15. ↑ "Round 15 Teams: Fremantle names Nat Fyfe, Joel Selwood set to face GWS, Jarrad McVeigh returns". Fox Footy. Fox Sports Australia. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "Round 14 2017, Richmond v Carlton". AFL Tables. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  17. ↑ Olle, Sarah (28 July 2017). "The 'huge disruption' that could help or hinder Richmond — it just depends on whom you ask". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  18. ↑ Ramsey, Michael (4 August 2017). "No AFL recall for retiring Eagle Priddis". The West Australian. Yahoo!7. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  19. ↑ Navaratnam, Dinny (20 September 2017). "Bolter Bolton? Speedster 'a level above' in VFL". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  20. ↑ "Richmond could unleash South Fremantle product Shai Bolton in preliminary final against GWS Giants". The West Australian. Yahoo!7. Herald Sun. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  21. ↑ Prime, Toby (24 September 2017). "Port Melbourne wins VFL premiership as Ben Lennon misses kick after final siren". Herald Sun. News Corp Austalia. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  22. ↑ Cavanagh, Chris (18 September 2017). "AFL's quickest players revealed with Toby Greene and Jarman Impey at top of list". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  23. ↑ "Scoring Summary". Peter Jackson VFL 2017. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  24. ↑ Riley Beveridge and Ben Waterworth (25 January 2018). "The young players in contention for breakout AFL seasons in 2018". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  25. ↑ Schmook, Nathan (24 February 2018). "Goalsneak Bolton firms for round one spot". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. AFL Media. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  26. ↑ Edsall, Rudi (23 March 2018). "AFL Teams - Round 1, 2018". Triple M. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  27. ↑ Clark, Jay (6 April 2018). "AFL teams: See all the squads for Round 3 of the AFL season". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  28. ↑ "The VFL Report: Round 1". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  29. ↑ Mann, Brenton (19 May 2018). "VFL Tigers withstand the challenge, and streak past Zebras". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  30. ↑ "Round 11 injury update". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  31. ↑ "VFL Report: Round 9". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  32. ↑ McArdle, Jordan (11 June 2018). "Richmond livewire Shai Bolton's incredible mark in the VFL". The West Australian. Seven West Media. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  33. 1 2 "Bolton claims VFL Mark and Goal of the Year". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  34. ↑ Mann, Brenton (8 July 2018). "VFL Tigers secure a gutsy win on the road". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  35. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (12 July 2018). "Flag duo and young forward return". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  36. ↑ Spits, Scott (19 July 2018). "Tigers lose Houli, but regain defender Broad". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  37. ↑ Cherny, Daniel (22 July 2018). "Tiger rookie in contention for blockbuster debut". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  38. ↑ "VFL Report: Round 17". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  39. ↑ "Prestia sidelined with rib injury". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  40. 1 2 "Minor ankle injury sidelines Lambert". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  41. ↑ Pierik, Jon (28 August 2018). "Sicily to miss another week". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  42. ↑ "Townsend injury blow". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  43. ↑ Phelan, Jennifer (10 September 2018). "Time running out for Tigers' flag hero to return". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  44. ↑ "Scoring Summary". Peter Jackson VFL 2018. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  45. ↑ Ralph, Jon (29 March 2018). "Rising Tiger Shai Bolton has put contract talks on hold until the end of the 2018 season". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  46. ↑ Edmund, Sam (4 September 2018). "Richmond small forward Shai Bolton will sign a new deal with the Tigers". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  47. ↑ Bowen, Nick (3 October 2018). "Tiger signs on because he 'loves the club'". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
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