Star Fremantle recruit Shai Bolton on his scoreboard taunt in Thursday night win over Essendon
Shai Bolton was one of the instigators of several skirmishes in Fremantle’s fiery win over Essendon on Thursday night – and his scoreboard taunt had the footy world talking.
Star Fremantle recruit Shai Bolton says he’ll continue to embrace the theatrics of football and “give a bit of lip” after he ruffled feathers in a fiery win over Essendon on Thursday night.
Bolton was one of the instigators of several skirmishes in the second quarter, pointing to the scoreboard after Josh Treacy put the Dockers 23-points up as Bombers players remonstrated.
Bolton backed it up with a goal of his own just moments later and shared a further exchange with defender Jaxon Prior, who had given away the free kick that led to major.
Asked about his antics, the 26-year-old admitted he’s a competitor and wouldn’t shy away from the light side of football.
“It was just a bit of banter to be honest,” Bolton told CODE Sports.
“In the game obviously you get a bit heated and sometimes you give a bit of lip.
“To be honest, it’s all fun and games. We’re just there to play footy and there wasn’t much to it to be honest.
“I’m just having fun playing footy. We’ll leave it at that.”
Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said he didn’t see the scoreboard taunt but gave Bolton’s edgy style the tick of approval.
“I didn’t see that, but I like the edge he plays with,” he said.
“I think largely Shai valued the right things tonight. I thought his pressure and contests were really strong from the get-go.
“He plays with flair and isn’t afraid and likes to get in the opposition’s face.
“So I didn’t see the pointing at the scoreboard, but I don’t mind the way he played.”
Bolton finished with 15 disposals and two goals.
After an injury delayed his Dockers debut, Bolton said he’s now thriving in purple as the 9-5 plot a return to finals.
“I feel like I’m learning every day,” he said.
“All of the senior boys have been really good.
“They tell me where to go. Every game I play, I’m getting more confident in where I need to go.
“We just like to take it one game at a time and focus on the next game. It was a good win by the boys. I think we’re going to keep improving.
“I’m back home with my family and loving life. The boys have made me really welcome.
“I’m really happy with the move. I felt like it was the best move for my career. I’m loving my time here so far.”
Contenders? Freo, Bolton get the last laugh over brave Bombers
– Brad Elborough and Chloe Williams
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has no issue with Shai Bolton’s on-field attitude, after he agitated Essendon players by pointing to the scoreboard during Thursday night’s 41-point win.
Tensions boiled over in the second quarter when Bolton pointed to the scoreboard during a scuffle, letting the Bombers know exactly who was in control. The margin was 23 points.
The former Richmond star then slotted a goal of his own a minute later and had words with Bomber Jaxon Prior, who had given away the free kick that allowed him the shot on goal.
That only further stoked the fire as tempers flared again.
RECAP ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENED BELOW.
Longmuir said he didn’t see the scoreboard gesture, but had no issue with Bolton’s approach.
“I didn’t see that, but I like the edge he plays with,” he said.
“I think largely Shai valued the right things tonight. I thought his pressure and contests were really strong from the get-go.
“He plays with flair and isn’t afraid and likes to get in the opposition’s face.
So I didn’t see the pointing at the scoreboard, but I don’t mind the way he played.”
Bolton finished with two goals from 15 disposals.
The Dockers’ fifth consecutive win takes their season record to 9-5, with a game against St Kilda next week, again in Perth.
SCOTT’S SAY ON STRUGGLING DON
Essendon coach Brad Scott said out-of-form midfielder Archie Perkins needs to be reminded of what he’s really good at.
Perkins started as the sub for a second week, against Fremantle in Perth on Thursday night.
He had a couple of moments that he would rather have back, including missing an uncontested mark in attack because he took his eyes off the ball.
He managed 10 possessions in the loss to the Dockers, following seven against Geelong and 11 against Carlton.
Scott said he thought it would come for the 23-year-old.
“I think that it’s always about reminding players what they’re really good at. And Perkins is a strong, powerful footballer who, at his best, is breaking through tackles and competing really strong,” he said.
“Right at the moment, he’s doubting himself a little bit. And so my job is to remind him of what he’s really good at.
“Coach those things. in terms of the technical aspect, but then getting to the point where he’s in the frame of mind to get out and compete, because he is a competitor.
“But he’s just making mistakes through hesitation at the moment.
“It’ll come for him. We’ve just got to persist.”
Essendon can expect up to five or six players to be available after next week’s bye as they recover from injury. Plus, Sam Durham will return from suspension to play the Gold Coast in round 17.
But Scott said they needed to assess the risk of bringing so many players back into the team in one hit.
MATCH REPORT: FREO TOO STRONG
It took 11 minutes for Fremantle to set up its 41-point win over Essendon at Optus Stadium on Thursday night.
In that short period, from late in the first quarter, to early in the second, the Dockers booted 6.1 to the Bombers 0.1.
They turned a seven-point deficit into a 29-point lead.
During that time, ruck Luke Jackson kicked two of his three goals, making the most of his chance against a Bombers side struggling to field big men.
When the Bombers had their chance to challenge, in the third term, they were unable to take it.
Essendon kept the ball in its forward line for a long period of time in that third quarter, but could only add three behinds.
The Bombers had lost their chance of an upset win.
Fremantle kicked 6.5 to 3.1 from that moment, to grab its fifth consecutive win, 16.8 (104) to 9.9 (63).
JOSH BACK ON THE BOARD
Fremantle would be ecstatic to see Josh Treacy return to the goal scorers list.
After three weeks without a goal, he kicked three against the Bombers.
He showed how important he is to their side, when they lost the last three games last season while he was injured.
But after a barnstorming start to this season, his goal kicking stalled.
After booting 17.6 over the first five games of the season, he added 8.7 over the next seven.
The Dockers had won their three games before this weekend, without Treacy kicking a goal.
They’ll be much harder to beat when the centre-half-forward is kicking them.
MUCH BETTER START THOUGH
In each of the three weeks before this one, all of Essendon’s opponents kicked six goals in first quarters.
Essendon trailed by an average of 29 points at the first break over those three games, against Brisbane, Carlton and Geelong.
The Dockers managed only three.
The Bombers controlled the tempo in the early stages, with Andrew McGrath, Jye Caldwell and Darcy Parish getting plenty of the ball.
They even led by seven points before Fremantle kicked a couple of late goals to take a six-point lead into the first break.
STRAIGHT INTO THE FIRE
It wasn’t a bad debut for Bombers ruck Vigo Visentini.
He was the second highest ranked Bomber on the ground at half-time, behind only Jye Calwell.
It was a tough introduction for the youngster though, with Essendon resting veteran Todd Goldstein.
He was opposed to Fremantle’s Jackson, who was the game’s highest ranked player.
Visentini dropped off a little, but showed promise, with 15 disposals, four clearances and 17 hit out.
He was the Bombers 11th debutant this season, and one of seven that played against the Dockers.
Five of the Bombers nine goals came from those seven players, with Archer May impressing, with two. Luamon Lual also kicked two, and Isaac Kako one.
That number, 11, equals the most debutants in a season since 2013, with North Melbourne having the same number in 2017.
The Bombers still have eight regular season games to add another … and five players on their list who are yet to taste footy at the top level.
SCOREBOARD
FREMANTLE 3.2 9.3 13.3 16.8 (104)
ESSENDON 2.2 6.5 6.8 9.9 (63)
BEST
Dockers: Jackson, Serong, Ryan, Treacy, Clark, Brayshaw.
Bombers: Caldwell, Parish, Merrett, Martin, Caddy, May.
GOALS
Dockers: Treacy 3, Jackson 3, Serong 2, Bolton 2, Frederick 2, Reid, Brayshaw, Voss, O’Driscoll.
Bombers: May 2, Lual 2, Wright, Kako, Duursma, Caddy, Gresham.
INJURIES Dockers: Nil. Bombers: Duursma (hamstring).
37,570 at Optus Stadium.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
BRAD ELBOROUGH’S VOTES
3 Luke Jackson (FRE)
2 Caleb Serong (FRE)
1 Luke Ryan (FRE)
Originally published as Star Fremantle recruit Shai Bolton on his scoreboard taunt in Thursday night win over Essendon
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