EFL 2019: Boronia great Jess Bolton decides to retrie

One of Boronia’s favourites has decided to retire after a memorable career with the EFL club which took in a premiership, five Team of the Year selections and two best and fairests.

Jess Bolton gets a kick away for Boronia in the EFL. Picture: David Nicholas

Before he finished as one of Boronia’s greats, Jess Bolton once called Brendan Fevola a teammate in a stint at Casey Scorpions.

It was 2011, and Fevola spent the year in the VFL after being sacked by Brisbane.

Fevola was the star signing in the state league, but Bolton had fought hard to work his way into the seniors.

He was “struggling to get a game in the twos” when he first joined the Scorpions, but soon established himself in the VFL reserves.

Jess Bolton is chaired off after his final game for Boronia. Picture: David Nicholas

Bolton broke into the seniors and held on to his spot for finals, which were televised on the national broadcaster.

“That was definitely a new experience when you’re coming from third division football to top-end VFL,” Bolton said.

“I got to play four or five games with ‘Fev’. When you’re running out there for finals with those kind of guys and AFL names, it was a really good experience.”

His rise was recognised by being named Casey’s most improved reserves player that season, finishing with 19 state league games.

But it was at Boronia where he would achieve most his football success.

He CV reads: premiership player, former captain, five-time Team of the Year member and two-time best and fairest winner.

The champion defender played more than 150 games, the most memorable coming when Boronia stunned the undefeated Ringwood in last year’s grand final.

The Hawks claimed a clean sweep of flags, with the reserves and under-19s also winning premierships.

Jess Bolton has enjoyed a magnificent career in the EFL. Picture: David Nicholas

“Boronia over the years, when people look back, it was finals for seven or eight years out of the 10 or 11 I was there but we just couldn’t do anything with it,” Bolton said.

“Last year was a hell of a year when the club goes and wins the under-19s, reserves and seniors grand finals.

“It was an amazing day and season for the club … it will definitely be my highlight over any of the individual stuff.”

Bolton, 31, also tasted Division 1 football at East Burwood, where he made 20 senior appearances.

At Boronia, East Burwood and Casey, he’s “somewhere around that 250 senior games mark”.

“It’s hard to keep track of the numbers,” he said.

Bolton last month informed Boronia he had made the decision to retire, with his last game against Mulgrave on June 1.

He said work demands had made it difficult to continue playing. Injuries have also kept him to just three games this year.

“I actually said to the guys that football to me isn’t something that I’m just diehard about … but I love the social side of things,” he said.

“You’ve got 60 mates and all your supporters and fans around the club and if you get a right club like Boronia, it’s a hell of a place to be around.

“That’s probably been part of me staying in football for so long is that I’ve just loved the social side of things.”

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