Pick 29: Shai Bolton | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
  • IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.

Pick 29: Shai Bolton

FitenFitenWin

Listen to the thunder RFC
Jul 30, 2009
3,228
1,439
Brisbane
Some massive undervaluing of Bartlett’s speed, skill, reading of the play, ball winning ability, versatility, resilience and endurance.
You could put KB of that era in a time machine and lob him into today’s game, no problem. Hart also.
If Shai gets anywhere near that level, we will be doing extremely well to have such a player.

I rate Shai highly and am rapt with the signing. Star. Time will tell if that turns into legend status (let alone an MCG statue!)
Anyone that thinks KB was slower than Bolton never saw him play. KB was electric fast -an amateur athlete than ran at Stawell. Only rates behind Martin as the greatest ever Tiger for mine. Bolton has an enormous gap to bridge to get him to that level.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 9 users

Greenie

Tiger Rookie
Mar 15, 2014
294
328
Shai faster, more elusive, the better mark and the better at handball!
Lots of great commentary on the comparison including yours Momentai. Just 1 comment though - KB was super fast and ran in Pro Gifts. Could go all day. Very elusive too although probably not in Shai's league there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

5SKULL5

What stands in the way, becomes the way!
Dec 20, 2004
1,027
694
Melbourne
I well remember KB running past me in Flinders Street station to catch the train up to Richmond for training.
He regularly flew by with that wispy hair flowing, AND that ever present gladstone bag:LOL:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

momentai

Tiger Legend
Jul 24, 2004
6,217
2,874
Melb
I well remember KB running past me in Flinders Street station to catch the train up to Richmond for training.
He regularly flew by with that wispy hair flowing, AND that ever present gladstone bag:LOL:
Well there are clearly differences of opinion here and rating the level of skill of players of different eras can only ever be an opinion.

I saw Hart and KB in both the 67 and 69 Grand finals. Both were sensational.
And Dusty in 17 and 19, and Shai in 19 only.

Feel fortunate that we have had all 4.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 users

craig

Tiger Legend
Aug 19, 2004
45,627
29,174
Melbourne
Well there are clearly differences of opinion here and rating the level of skill of players of different eras can only ever be an opinion.

I saw Hart and KB in both the 67 and 69 Grand finals. Both were sensational.
And Dusty in 17 and 19, and Shai in 19 only.

Feel fortunate that we have had all 4.
Dont forget Freamey in the 1980 GF,!! Dead set swung the momentum when he came on !! :))
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

momentai

Tiger Legend
Jul 24, 2004
6,217
2,874
Melb
Anyone that thinks KB was slower than Bolton never saw him play. KB was electric fast -an amateur athlete than ran at Stawell. Only rates behind Martin as the greatest ever Tiger for mine. Bolton has an enormous gap to bridge to get him to that level.
I had the pleasure of seeing a lot of the great KB.
We have access to the speed and agility levels achieved by Shai and it would be interesting to be able to compare those with KB, but I expect they don’t exist.

Does any one know?
 

Tigertough1974

Tiger Champion
Oct 1, 2013
2,845
916
Very pleased for RFC and Shai, lets hope they keep him in the Martin role and with Dusty back alternate the both of them, this should be Shai's position going forward as he is very good at clearances and up forward.

Very grateful to have him for another 5 years, what a get in the second rd of drafting...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users

Dont Argue

Tiger Legend
Jun 26, 2018
5,777
12,388
Shai certainly has had his problems but just a loss of confidence. Temporary only!
Shai’s inaccuracy has more to do with ball drop technique than confidence.
I also notice he tends to rush the snap where if he took the one extra step to balance, he’d have more control of the ball.
Might be travelling too fast for his own good.


*NB KB was a magnificent kick for goal from all angles.
Shai will never get close to that ability
 

ceehook2

Tiger Matchwinner
Feb 11, 2021
810
1,382
64
Well there are clearly differences of opinion here and rating the level of skill of players of different eras can only ever be an opinion.

I saw Hart and KB in both the 67 and 69 Grand finals. Both were sensational.
And Dusty in 17 and 19, and Shai in 19 only.

Feel fortunate that we have had all 4.
Geez Mo , you're no spring chicken :oops:

I was at the '67 2nd semi V Blues as a 7 yo
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users

RoarEmotion

Tiger Champion
Aug 20, 2005
4,939
6,450
Shai’s inaccuracy has more to do with ball drop technique than confidence.
I also notice he tends to rush the snap where if he took the one extra step to balance, he’d have more control of the ball.
Might be travelling too fast for his own good.


*NB KB was a magnificent kick for goal from all angles.
Shai will never get close to that ability
Shai must dwarf kbs goal assist metrics though. Goals created a much better metric and the stuff shai does leads to high quality scoring opportunities for the team.
 

Tigertough1974

Tiger Champion
Oct 1, 2013
2,845
916
Anyone know who Shai and Daniels manager is now? Carr bent us over for Dusty although he was worth it, both Shai & DR leave the wig one and both sign long term contracts which seem to be bargains, magnificent.
 

Dont Argue

Tiger Legend
Jun 26, 2018
5,777
12,388
Shai must dwarf kbs goal assist metrics though. Goals created a much better metric and the stuff shai does leads to high quality scoring opportunities for the team.
That stat wasn’t invented when KB played.
Check out how many goals he kicked playing as a pure rover.
He’s a legend of the game for good reason
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users

RoarEmotion

Tiger Champion
Aug 20, 2005
4,939
6,450
That stat wasn’t invented when KB played.
Check out how many goals he kicked playing as a pure rover.
He’s a legend of the game for good reason
He was a genius for sure. He was also known as hungry for a reason.

Metrics that show how well a player generates offense/defence for a team would be very difficult to generate - and we still don’t really have them.

Basketball you can see how a team does with / without a player on the floor and only five players - tells you about offence and defensive impact.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

eZyT

Tiger Legend
Jun 28, 2019
21,434
25,775
Great xmas pressie thanks $hai and rfc

Astonishing that we know who 75% of our starting midfield

In 2028 will be, and all under 30.

Our window is basically open for another five years imo

When it should really be closed for 10
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users

spook

Kick the f*ckin' goal
Jun 18, 2007
21,912
26,417
Melbourne
KB was a better kick for goal.
Shai’s inaccuracy has more to do with ball drop technique than confidence.
I also notice he tends to rush the snap where if he took the one extra step to balance, he’d have more control of the ball.
Might be travelling too fast for his own good.


*NB KB was a magnificent kick for goal from all angles.
Shai will never get close to that ability
KB kicked 778.781
Shai has 100.89
 
  • Love
Reactions: 1 user