Richmond premiership hero Shai Bolton requests trade away from Punt Rd

Shai Bolton has requested to return to Perth at the end of the season. JON RALPH has the details on if he can get there or if the Tigers will hold him to his contract.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 18: Shai Bolton of the Tigers kicks a goal during the round 23 AFL match between Hawthorn Hawks and Richmond Tigers at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on August 18, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Richmond superstar Shai Bolton has told the Tigers he is keen to return to Perth, aware he will have to stay put if WA-based clubs cannot put up a vast trade bounty for his services.

Bolton might be playing his last AFL game for Richmond this weekend against Gold Coast, with the Tigers reconsidering their hard-line position on the 25-year-old.

When his name was floated as a trade possibility mid-year Bolton was still happy to stay, having made the call only 18 months before to play out his career in Richmond.

But with a second baby on the way later this year. Bolton and his partner are increasingly aware of the challenges of remaining away from family who find it difficult to get to Melbourne to support them.

He has four more years on a deal of $1.1-$1.2 million, with Fremantle and West Coast keen but the Dockers a much more likely home given their trio of first-round picks.

Richmond had been resolute that they would not trade him under any scenario.

Shai Bolton has requested a trade out of Punt Rd. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

But with Tasmania’s introduction around the corner and the Tigers’ list issues making a mini-rebuild likely, they are now open to at least assessing what a deal might look like.

His manager Anthony Van Der Weilen said he had not formally asked for a trade.

But he confirmed the Herald Sun’s report on Monday afternoon that he would prefer to play in Perth next year.

“We have had some ongoing discussions with Richmond throughout the season where he has indicated that he would be open to the idea of returning home to Perth if a suitable deal can be struck that benefits all parties involved,” he said.

With a young family and strong ties to Perth, the prospect of being closer to home is appealing to him. However, Shai is not making any demands of Richmond and fully understands that he has four years remaining on his current contract.”

Richmond is now aware they will have to be open-minded about all trades to improve their list, with Gold Coast chasing Daniel Rioli hard as an attacking half back despite his Tigers contract to 2027.

Fremantle’s current draft hand is picks 9, 10, 17 and 26, with Richmond sure to ask for two first-rounders for Bolton given he is at the peak of his career.

Richmond has told Bolton if he stayed they would build a team around him as they seek to stockpile early draft selections under list boss Blair Hartley and new recruiter Chris Toce.

But they will never get a better chance to secure “overs” for Bolton and vice-captain Liam Baker, who is set to return to Perth.

Richmond has also offered free agent Jack Graham a deal as he assesses West Coast’s free agency offer.

Bolton is fully aware that if the Perth-based clubs cannot satisfy Richmond he will remain at Punt Road next year given he signed his most recent deal in December 2022.

Richmond will also be aware another year in Melbourne is unlikely to assuage the couple’s homesickness, so if Fremantle plays ball it might be the perfect time to get maximum compensation this year.

Baker would ideally play for West Coast but Fremantle’s early selections and premiership window mean they have a better chance of securing both players.

Shai Bolton celebrates after the 2019 Grand Final. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Dockers could offer up all three first-round draft picks for the pair, which would give Richmond picks 1, 9, 10, 17, 21 and 30 before any dealings with the Suns on Rioli.

Bolton would not seek a pay rise on his current deal but might ask for an extra year or two on the current four-year contract, with both WA-based clubs able to afford that money in their salary cap.

West Coast is interested but even if they secure a trade for defender Tom Barrass is unlikely to have the draft capital to secure Bolton, who at 25 is not the perfect age for their list build.

Bolton’s Richmond teammate Marlion Pickett is more likely to retire than ask for another one-year contract as he battles injury concerns.

He has battled calf issues and returned to Perth recently for his father’s funeral, and given Richmond is likely to be stripped of experience they had been open to a conversation on another deal.

But he will have discussions with the club in coming days about his future, having made AFL history when he debuted in a Grand Final victory for the Tigers.

A court case for commercial burglary charges is due to be set in October after repeated delays.

But with the start of that court case to be set 18 months into the future it would not prevent Pickett from playing on in 2025.

He is likely to remain in Melbourne in coming years after coming to Richmond as the No. 13 pick in the 2019 mid-season draft then finding his way into the premiership side after Graham’s shoulder injury.

Originally published as Richmond premiership hero Shai Bolton requests trade away from Punt Rd