Richmond young gun Shai Bolton on the gruelling summer that propelled him to finals

After playing just nine games in two years, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick sat down with forward Shai Bolton. Now, in the final year of his contract, the Tiger is reaping the rewards.

Shai Bolton can’t wait for Saturday night. Pic: Getty Images

Rising Richmond star Shai Bolton has revealed a pre-season chat from coach Damien Hardwick was the catalyst in him lifting his fitness heading into the final year of his contract.

The talented but inconsistent forward had played just nine games in two years, and missed the Tigers’ drought-breaking 2017 premiership.

The West Australian returned to Perth during the summer and started a gruelling regimen with personal trainer Saia Wood-Halafihi.

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Four times a week during the middle of the day he would borrow his mother’s car and make a 130km round-trip from his home in Mandurah to knuckle down for the workout sessions.

“It was kind of like (it could have been my last year and I had to give it everything),” he said.

“I just wanted to prove myself and show them that I can work hard and play the football that I want to play.

“I just wanted to show the club ... I just really wanted to focus on this year and coming back strong and to Richmond as good as I could.”

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When speedster Shai Bolton “clicks, he really clicks”, according to his coach. Picture: AAP Image

The hard work has paid off, with Bolton able to improve his stamina and play 16 games this year, including a Rising Star nomination.

He is now about to embark on his first AFL finals series, kicking off in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Captain Trent Cotchin says Bolton’s improvement this year is a “credit” to the speedy small forward.

“When he was drafted … he was super shy,” Cotchin told the Herald Sun.

“He’d come from Perth and had a great relationship with his family ... he struggled a little bit being away from home, but he had a really big off-season and then pre-season last year and for him it’s just about finding that consistency, which I think we’ve started to see.

Personal trainer Saia Wood-Halafihi puts Shai Bolton through his paces in Perth. Picture: Instagram

“It’s just about taking that to a new level.

“To be proactive in his own development was a credit to him and obviously he’s reaped the rewards this season as well.”

Bolton has become a vital cog in Richmond’s newly-dubbed “mosquito fleet” — which includes Daniel Rioli and Jason “George” Castagna — booting 13 goals this year.

“A lot of the small forwards are pretty close to each other,” Bolton said.

“We just practise every day on our goals and we’re always close when we travel. We have a close relationship which is good.”

As the Tigers look to repeat their 2017 glory, coach Damien Hardwick has been excited by the renewed energy provided by the likes of Bolton.

“When it clicks for Shai, it really really clicks,” Hardwick said.

Bolton has kick 13 goals in his 16 games this year. Picture: Getty Images

“Him and Daniel Rioli and George are so important to the way we play.

“The common misconception is ‘oh, they’re not massive stat-getters, they’re not massive goal-getters’, but the reality is they help us win a lot of footy games.

“That’s why they’re so important to the way we play.

Born in Katanning, a small town just over three hours south-east of Perth, Bolton had always eyed football as his path.

His father, Darren, played two games for Fremantle in 1999.

He won a best and fairest with Peel Thunder, and after a stint boarding at Wesley College in Perth, Bolton quit school after Year 11 to channel everything into his AFL dream.

Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton are vital to the Tigers’ “mosquito fleet”. Picture: AAP Image

He now loves Melbourne life and insists he has not been distracted by the fact he will be out of contract once the season ends.

“I’m just focused on football. I’ll let my manager do all the talking with the club,” he said.

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“I’m focused on now with Richmond and the finals. I love playing with Richmond and being with them.”

The 20-year-old is eyeing more midfield time, endeavouring to soak up as much as he can from stars such as Dustin Martin, Shane Edwards and Cotchin.

“It will be the first time I play on the big stage,” Bolton said of Saturday night.

“Hopefully we can go to the ‘Gabba and get a good win. I used to get nervous in my first and second year, but now that I have a few games under my belt I don’t get too nervous.”