Recommitted Shai Bolton [Re-signed to 2023]

[La Dispute]

Bit of a worry now for tiggy fans ,all we've heard is how shai will sign for less at Richmond ,cause of success etc but its quite clear richmonds run is over and its now headed back down tbe ladder (potentially in a big way).

Which begs the question why the hell would bolten sacrifice hundreds of thousands of dollars to play in rebuilding side just because their Richmond,when he could choose any number of sides in the same boat but trending upwards AND get paid shitloads more to do so!

Worrying times for the yellow and black

Agreed, reckon the lure of heading home on a bigger contract is going to be too big.

Doubt he sticks around in a rebuilding Richmond side.

 

[Kangas_11]

Bit of a worry now for tiggy fans ,all we've heard is how shai will sign for less at Richmond ,cause of success etc but its quite clear richmonds run is over and its now headed back down tbe ladder (potentially in a big way).

Which begs the question why the hell would bolten sacrifice hundreds of thousands of dollars to play in rebuilding side just because their Richmond,when he could choose any number of sides in the same boat but trending upwards AND get paid shitloads more to do so!

Worrying times for the yellow and black

A Bolton/Brayshaw/Cerra/Serong midfield must be looking pretty tempting right now for Shai.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

Shai has the ability to play inside and outside and collects possessions at will without having to rely on others , When first drafted my opinion was Michael Walters and he has reached that level way before Walters did and not sure why you think his best is at Richmond it doesnt make sense.

I wouldn’t say he is ahead of Walters at the same stage. Walters kicked 46 goals in his 5 season and avg 5 less touches then Bolton is.

 

[THE_GUN]

I wouldn’t say he is ahead of Walters at the same stage. Walters kicked 46 goals in his 5 season and avg 5 less touches then Bolton is.

Walters was playing mainly foward in 2013/2014 his 5th/6th year and only really was able to go into the midfield properly after 2016
Shai was playing mid in his 5th year averaging over 21 touches

2017/2018 Walters started getting to 18/19 possessions playing mid and as expected his goal averages dropped accordingly
Shai is doing in his 5th year what walters started doing in his 8th/9th year of afl

 

[Ash1337]

Bolton really needs to learn to run both ways and play more defensively when the team is struggling. Offensive only players are out. It's why demons are good because all their mids and smalls play both ways and the recent losses show that teams cant have no one that wont run both ways.

I think he's still worth a early first but don't expect much more for him unless the contract is huge.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

Walters was playing mainly foward in 2013/2014 his 5th/6th year and only really was able to go into the midfield properly after 2016
Shai was playing mid in his 5th year averaging over 21 touches

2017/2018 Walters started getting to 18/19 possessions playing mid and as expected his goal averages dropped accordingly
Shai is doing in his 5th year what walters started doing in his 8th/9th year of afl

Yes but Walters at the same stage Bolton is now (5th year) was twice the forward Bolton is but avg only ~5 touches less. Because Walters was so good forward they probably had no need to even try him in the midfield.

 

[faible]

Yes but Walters at the same stage Bolton is now (5th year) was twice the forward Bolton is but avg only ~5 touches less. Because Walters was so good forward they probably had no need to even try him in the midfield.

Walters has always been good when played on-ball, but Fremantle has had shit forwards and decent midfielders so he's mostly been used to prop up the forward line in his time.

 

[Warhorse]

Plays nothing like Walters. Strange comparison. Reminds of Leon Davis - 2009 version

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

Plays nothing like Walters. Strange comparison. Reminds of Leon Davis - 2009 version

I think he is a fairly unique player. Offensively he reminds me of Zorko, also a lot of a young Daisy Thomas

 

[The Nostradamus]

Plays nothing like Walters. Strange comparison. Reminds of Leon Davis - 2009 version

That’s a good comparison

Like the Zorko comparison above also

a mix of both

He’s fast , clean and can rack up possessions. No major weaknesses on field

Deserves top dollar

 

[eastfreo75]

Agreed, reckon the lure of heading home on a bigger contract is going to be too big.

Doubt he sticks around in a rebuilding Richmond side.

Tigers might not be thinking rebuild.

My personal view that the Club will consider this year as an outlier.

Tigers have a strong draft hand this year and might to do a Geelong and top up.

Remember everybody including myself felt that the Cats would fall but they didn't.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

That’s a good comparison

Like the Zorko comparison above also

a mix of both

He’s fast , clean and can rack up possessions. No major weaknesses on field

Deserves top dollar

I personally wouldn't pay him top dollar, given his sometimes erratic hot and cold form.

I can understand why a club like Freo would though.

The more I think about it, a Bolton for Cerra straight swap seems just about equitable/fair for both the Tigers and Freo.

And Richmond still keep their FRPs this season to help regenerate their list/midfield (possibly move up the draft table to)

If the Tigers are pragmatic and detach emotional investment in Bolton, whom I know is a fan favourite, they could have a terrific trade and draft period which could extend their flag window (Disty and Lynch both have at least 5 good seasons of footy left in them)

If they can be bold with list management, i see Jo reason why their flag window has to close after this season with expected retirements of greats like Cotchin, Houli etc.

Tiges have enough young-mid range players to still have a core of a contender imo.

 

[La Dispute]

Tigers might not be thinking rebuild.

My personal view that the Club will consider this year as an outlier.

Tigers have a strong draft hand this year and might to do a Geelong and top up.

Remember everybody including myself felt that the Cats would fall but they didn't.

They don’t have much of a middle band, age-wise or performance-wise, to stay competitive IMO.

Riewoldt and Cotchin are cooked, Houli and Edwards have a year or two max.

That leaves Martin, Lynch and Grimes with Prestia, Short, Nankervis and Vlastuin. IMO that isn’t enough, factoring in some natural decline in their better players.

They have picks and will re-stock regardless, but it’ll be a few years until they are challenging for a flag again. Bolton might want to bet that Freo rise as Richmond decline, which is what is happening anyway.

 

[tiger_tough]

They don’t have much of a middle band, age-wise or performance-wise, to stay competitive IMO.

Riewoldt and Cotchin are cooked, Houli and Edwards have a year or two max.

That leaves Martin, Lynch and Grimes with Prestia, Short, Nankervis and Vlastuin. IMO that isn’t enough, factoring in some natural decline in their better players.

They have picks and will re-stock regardless, but it’ll be a few years until they are challenging for a flag again. Bolton might want to bet that Freo rise as Richmond decline, which is what is happening anyway.

5 people in the comp have kicked more goals than Riewoldt. Naive thing to say. Houli looks done and Cotchin was fine up until 3 weeks ago, much like the rest of the team. He'll get back to playing good footy. Edwards has been playing hurt, he'll play on for at least 2 or 3 more seasons.

Baker? Balta? Broad? Lambert? Graham? Plus a handful of promising kids.

As Jack said last night most people have been waiting for us to drop off to stick the boots in but only 3 games ago we were a game out of top 4. We won't have as bad an injury run as this year and in all likeliness we'll be having a much longer pre season to get prepared for next season.

It'd be foolish to write us off. We desperately need Bolton to stay to keep pushing for contention.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

5 people in the comp have kicked more goals than Riewoldt. Naive thing to say. Houli looks done and Cotchin was fine up until 3 weeks ago, much like the rest of the team. He'll get back to playing good footy. Edwards has been playing hurt, he'll play on for at least 2 or 3 more seasons.

Baker? Balta? Broad? Lambert? Graham? Plus a handful of promising kids.

As Jack said last night most people have been waiting for us to drop off to stick the boots in but only 3 games ago we were a game out of top 4. We won't have as bad an injury run as this year and in all likeliness we'll be having a much longer pre season to get prepared for next season.

It'd be foolish to write us off. We desperately need Bolton to stay to keep pushing for contention.

History suggests you'll be very hard pressed to win another anytime soon but with the way your club has been run the last 5 years you cant fully write off with any confidence.

On Bolton, I'm not sure how people are suggesting your better off letting him go, he's proven elite material at 22, not sure how your better in the short, medium or long term by trading him. Best result is clearly keeping him

 

[Warhorse]

Boltons a gem of a player. Why would they push him out the door to Freo?

 

[La Dispute]

5 people in the comp have kicked more goals than Riewoldt. Naive thing to say. Houli looks done and Cotchin was fine up until 3 weeks ago, much like the rest of the team. He'll get back to playing good footy. Edwards has been playing hurt, he'll play on for at least 2 or 3 more seasons.

Baker? Balta? Broad? Lambert? Graham? Plus a handful of promising kids.

As Jack said last night most people have been waiting for us to drop off to stick the boots in but only 3 games ago we were a game out of top 4. We won't have as bad an injury run as this year and in all likeliness we'll be having a much longer pre season to get prepared for next season.

It'd be foolish to write us off. We desperately need Bolton to stay to keep pushing for contention.

The guys you’ve mentioned, aside from Balta, are role players who are being propped up playing in a good side.

They aren’t going to get you from a mid-range team back into contention. More likely their performance deteriorates, as it already has, playing in a weaker team.

Not sure who these promising kids are? Every team in the league has guys like CCJ and Ross. Naish is a little soft, RCD is a battler. If Bolton bails their quota is next to zero decent young players.

Richmond are finished IMO.

 

[tiger_tough]

The guys you’ve mentioned, aside from Balta, are role players who are being propped up playing in a good side.

They aren’t going to get you from a mid-range team back into contention. More likely their performance deteriorates, as it already has, playing in a weaker team.

Not sure who these promising kids are? Every team in the league has guys like CCJ and Ross. Naish is a little soft, RCD is a battler. If Bolton bails their quota is next to zero decent young players.

Richmond are finished IMO.

Broad would have been leading our bnf before he was injured. Baker is a gun who has been thrown forward back and in the midfield plugging holes all season. Lambert is a match winner when fit. Remember the prelim last year or were you on holidays? Graham always steps up when Cotchin doesn't play but plays a selfless defensive role when he has to and does it well. He'll get let off the chain eventually. RCD is a level above vfl just has to find his feet at top level and he will. Dow, Ralphsmith and Martyn are all promising midfield prospects and Ryan has been exceptional at vfl level for a first year ruck. Mansell looks a likely type.

Add to that we have the strongest draft hand in the comp to either take to the draft or probably trade in a couple best 22 players and still have a pretty good draft hand...... and arguably the best coach.

I know it's a hard concept to grasp for Carlton fans but when you're in the middle of a dynasty it's hard to pump games into the kids or let role players try be more than just that. We haven't traded anyone in for 5 years and have hit the draft every year so of course there's going to be some quality kids waiting for their turn. Just have to get the juggling act right between taking responsibility off the senior players and giving it to the youngsters. A shocking injury run over the past 6 weeks or so has only made things harder. A full pre season and tweaked game plan to accommodate for the changes and we'll be back up there.

The whole 'Richmond are done' line is one coming from a place of hope rather than reality.

 

[eastfreo75]

Broad would have been leading our bnf before he was injured. Baker is a gun who has been thrown forward back and in the midfield plugging holes all season. Lambert is a match winner when fit. Remember the prelim last year or were you on holidays? Graham always steps up when Cotchin doesn't play but plays a selfless defensive role when he has to and does it well. He'll get let off the chain eventually. RCD is a level above vfl just has to find his feet at top level and he will. Dow, Ralphsmith and Martyn are all promising midfield prospects and Ryan has been exceptional at vfl level for a first year ruck.

Add to that we have the strongest draft hand in the comp to either take to the draft or probably trade in a couple best 22 players and still have a pretty good draft hand...... and arguably the best coach.

The whole 'Richmond are done' line is one coming from a place of hope rather than reality.

You getting Clarkson?

 

[tiger_tough]

You getting Clarkson?

I did say arguably.

Oh and we've lost Caracella, Rutten, Leppa and Macrae as assistants in the last 2 years and haven't been able to replace them with the bullshit soft cap cuts (plus the $100k covid fine). I'm sure we'll have a coaching re structure in the off season too which will only help.

 

[La Dispute]

Broad would have been leading our bnf before he was injured. Baker is a gun who has been thrown forward back and in the midfield plugging holes all season. Lambert is a match winner when fit. Remember the prelim last year or were you on holidays? Graham always steps up when Cotchin doesn't play but plays a selfless defensive role when he has to and does it well. He'll get let off the chain eventually. RCD is a level above vfl just has to find his feet at top level and he will. Dow, Ralphsmith and Martyn are all promising midfield prospects and Ryan has been exceptional at vfl level for a first year ruck.

Add to that we have the strongest draft hand in the comp to either take to the draft or probably trade in a couple best 22 players and still have a pretty good draft hand...... and arguably the best coach.

The whole 'Richmond are done' line is one coming from a place of hope rather than reality.

Broad leading your BnF is all we need to know. Role players batting above has been a consistent theme the past few years, but they aren’t going to improve and they look far worse in a poorer team. We’ve seen it already.

Had a good run, but they are done.

 

[Rich01]

The guys you’ve mentioned, aside from Balta, are role players who are being propped up playing in a good side.

They aren’t going to get you from a mid-range team back into contention. More likely their performance deteriorates, as it already has, playing in a weaker team.

Not sure who these promising kids are? Every team in the league has guys like CCJ and Ross. Naish is a little soft, RCD is a battler.

This is the exact same argument I have in relation to Carltons kids. Walsh and Weitering aside, their youngsters are either battlers or unproven.

Richmond have Balta and Bolton and a range of players who just haven’t been given the chance to play as the number one in their rightful positions, because there are more experienced players winning flags right now. These youngsters need time to play in these positions to see whether they are any good.

They unfortunately just haven’t been given that chance at the level as guys like Lynch, Prestia, Cotchin, have kept them out of the side.

No doubt they will decline in the short term but it will be club culture and leadership that determines whether they rise back up the ladder quickly or end up in a long term rebuild spiral as some clubs get caught up in.

 

[theyellowsash]

Higgins was not best 22, you did well with that trade, happy to be corrected if any other neutral thinks otherwise.

I have no idea what these trades would be in full if they went through, I know for certain they would be more than just pick 8 or 12

he played 43 out of a something like 55 or so games (once you take out games lost to the brain injury) for us in 2 premiership years and a year we finished clear on top. he was for the majority of the time best 22. a first round pick who as a teenager most of the time a best 22 player in a dual premiership team despite significant brain surgery. And all we got was a couple of pick upgrades. that wasnt a fair trade, but we had no choice.

 

[La Dispute]

This is the exact same argument I have in relation to Carltons kids. Walsh and Weitering aside, their youngsters are either battlers or unproven.

Richmond have Balta and Bolton and a range of players who just haven’t been given the chance to play as the number one in their rightful positions, because there are more experienced players winning flags right now. These youngsters need time to play in these positions to see whether they are any good.

They unfortunately just haven’t been given that chance at the level as guys like Lynch, Prestia, Cotchin, have kept them out of the side.

No doubt they will decline in the short term but it will be club culture and leadership that determines whether they rise back up the ladder quickly or end up in a long term rebuild spiral as some clubs get caught up in.

Richmond showed you can do well with a few top liners, but the bulk of your squad is made of role players and guys who’d be on the fringe at most clubs.

That is perfectly fine when your guns are firing, do most of the heavy lifting and the players around them fold into their form.

At worst that is what we’d be aiming for, and we’d be able to carry a decent number of average players so long as Walsh, Weitering and McKay were playing well and having a major influence on games.

A lot of the sentiment re: leadership and club culture reminds me of a lot of Hawks supporters post 2016. It only gets you so far.

 

[Ambrosia]

Richmond showed you can do well with a few top liners, but the bulk of your squad is made of role players and guys who’d be on the fringe at most clubs.

That is perfectly fine when your guns are firing, do most of the heavy lifting and the players around them fold into their form.

At worst that is what we’d be aiming for, and we’d be able to carry a decent number of average players so long as Walsh, Weitering and McKay were playing well and having a major influence on games.

A lot of the sentiment re: leadership and club culture reminds me of a lot of Hawks supporters post 2016. It only gets you so far.

Not sure that’s an accurate take on the strength of their premiership squads. The improvement of guys like: Broad, Short, Baker, Graham and Bolton suggests that their role players were underrated at the beginning if anything.