Pick 29: Shai Bolton | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Pick 29: Shai Bolton

spook said:
Shai has been very good for four weeks now, since he came back from injury. He's been to multiple centre bounces at all four games, and won a few clearances each time. He doesn't get huge numbers but he is electric. His screamer and (oh for a review) non-goal (it was a goal) against Willy were worthy of some sort of vehicle.

Last 4 weeks:
17 disposals, 8 tackles, 1.0 and named 2nd best v Collingwood. Maybe 3? clearances.
14 disposals, 5 tackles, 2.2 (3.1) and named 4th best v Willy.
18 disposals, 4 tackles, 0.3 and named 5th best v Blues.
22 disposals, ? tackles, 1 goal v Box Hill today and named 3rd best..

How's this from Manfred on the club website:
Bolton showed his poise in front of goal in the last quarter, as he zipped and dodged his way through congestion, steadied on 50 and kicking truly to cap-off a sterling performance.

Known more for his forward craft, this was a game that showed that may be remembered for the birth of Shai Bolton, the slick and silky midfielder.


I think it's $hai Time.
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Didn't realize Shai had put together that body of work together over the past month, 1st half average today but certainly had a great 2nd half.

Spook if you have the stats handy for the same period for Corey I think they would be even more impressive.

Wouldn't be unhappy with Corey and Shai as the ins this week, both need to make their mark.
 
The thought of having 4 mossies with Shai and Dan rotating with each other through the middle is juicy.

May not be this year but next year it could be possible.
 
It's an exciting prospect. But our wingers cover a mountain of ground and defensively are one of key's (yes McIntosh) so Shai has a lot of work to build his endurance but he is still so young.

I'd be bitterly disappointed to lose him but Adeladie have multiple first round picks this year. If he was to go to Adelaide, that would be the price. IF that's your worst case scenario, you are in a super strong position.
 
I'm getting really worried with how we are treating Shai. Make no mistake, he will be a gun, he has attributes that are very rare to find in players. He has great speed, unbelievable mark, evasiveness off the charts and all the skills by both hand & foot. He has the potential to be better than all our other small fwds (and yes that includes Rioli). He has been playing the midfield with our VFL team the last 3 weeks or so and has done very well going by reports. Surely we can find a spot for him in our senior team, he is too good to be playing VFL.

If we do not give him the opportunity to play at senior level, i am sure he and his management will look elsewhere to other teams where nearly every club would love to have him. We took him with our 1st pick in the draft, he has shown he has all the AFL traits to be a star but we aren't giving him the chance to shine. Yes his tank probably needs to improve as does his strength but he is improving in both of those; you can't teach talent, he is a very rare talent that we just can't lose. It will be a big mistake and mis-management if we lose Bolton at the end of the year, make no mistake.
 
Channel 7 sports imbecile fantasizing about what Hawforn could chase after with all their extra cap space now that Cyril has retired. Among the usual Lynch, Gaff mega contract potential they had Shai listed at $450,000 a year.

FFS, the kids got some fancy talent glimpses but he's still to raise much more than a wet fart yet at senior level. Kids still got at least another year or two growing n developing before he puts together enough footy to start collecting around the half million mark.
 
Mikee said:
I'm getting really worried with how we are treating Shai. Make no mistake, he will be a gun, he has attributes that are very rare to find in players. He has great speed, unbelievable mark, evasiveness off the charts and all the skills by both hand & foot. He has the potential to be better than all our other small fwds (and yes that includes Rioli). He has been playing the midfield with our VFL team the last 3 weeks or so and has done very well going by reports. Surely we can find a spot for him in our senior team, he is too good to be playing VFL.

If we do not give him the opportunity to play at senior level, i am sure he and his management will look elsewhere to other teams where nearly every club would love to have him. We took him with our 1st pick in the draft, he has shown he has all the AFL traits to be a star but we aren't giving him the chance to shine. Yes his tank probably needs to improve as does his strength but he is improving in both of those; you can't teach talent, he is a very rare talent that we just can't lose. It will be a big mistake and mis-management if we lose Bolton at the end of the year, make no mistake.
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He has to earn his spot.
He has shown glimpses. If his manager & him wants to chase the $$ elsewhere before he earned it, I say :wave
 
Al Bundy said:
He has to earn his spot.
He has shown glimpses. If his manager & him wants to chase the $$ elsewhere before he earned it, I say :wave
[/quote

That would be a very big mistake if we lose him, i have no doubt about that.
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Clarkson could? be thinking he is a longer term Cyril replacement. so could Shai for that matter.
but all up, he'll stay.
 
Big decision to leave a team at the top of their powers.

With the selection policies at the moment and Hardwick not just playing “favourites” Bolton knows that if he cracks form at the right time then he could be playing finals - just ask Towner or Graham
 
Shai’s first half against Sydney as a 17/18yo last year is enough evidence that he is likely going to be a success.

I’d only consider letting him go if his attitude/professionalism is poor and he doesn’t respond well to coaching advice. Otherwise, he’ll almost certainly be a gun.
 
123kid said:
Shai’s first half against Sydney as a 17/18yo last year is enough evidence that he is likely going to be a success.

I’d only consider letting him go if his attitude/professionalism is poor and he doesn’t respond well to coaching advice. Otherwise, he’ll almost certainly be a gun.
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Much like Dean Polo’s first game meant that he was likely to be a success.
 
If selected, he needs to understand he not need to take mark of the year or kick a bag to keep his spot. Tackle, chase, team play and hell be ok.

10 touches, maybe 1 goal, half a dozen tackles.. he need to look at Riolis stats to see you can impact without a lot of the ball.

I would to see him run out tomorrow night.
 
Tiger Pops said:
If selected, he needs to understand he not need to take mark of the year or kick a bag to keep his spot. Tackle, chase, team play and hell be ok.

10 touches, maybe 1 goal, half a dozen tackles.. he need to look at Riolis stats to see you can impact without a lot of the ball.

I would to see him run out tomorrow night.
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Yep agree
 
Tiger Pops said:
If selected, he needs to understand he not need to take mark of the year or kick a bag to keep his spot. Tackle, chase, team play and hell be ok.

10 touches, maybe 1 goal, half a dozen tackles.. he need to look at Riolis stats to see you can impact without a lot of the ball.

I would to see him run out tomorrow night.
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Me too tbh
 
Tiger Pops said:
If selected, he needs to understand he not need to take mark of the year or kick a bag to keep his spot. Tackle, chase, team play and hell be ok.

10 touches, maybe 1 goal, half a dozen tackles.. he need to look at Riolis stats to see you can impact without a lot of the ball.

I would to see him run out tomorrow night.
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Good points, well made. Play him.
 
Tiger Pops said:
If selected, he needs to understand he not need to take mark of the year or kick a bag to keep his spot. Tackle, chase, team play and hell be ok.

10 touches, maybe 1 goal, half a dozen tackles.. he need to look at Riolis stats to see you can impact without a lot of the ball.

I would to see him run out tomorrow night.
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Sorry to be negative but that assumes his motivation is the same as ours.

If he wants to maximise his contract offers then he’ll keep on trying to take mark of the year and kick goal of the year, probably under Carr’s instruction. Put in a few flashy performances and he could get a million dollars from it. That’s the reality we’re fighting against to get total buy in.
 
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