Robbo: Shai Bolton’s $20K fine for nightclub fight involving teammate Daniel Rioli excessive
Shai Bolton was invited to AFL House by league boss Gill McLachlan to discuss his nightclub fight. Mark Robinson reveals what happened next.
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Gill McLachlan invited Shai Bolton for a chat last Friday at AFL House.
The 48-year-old AFL boss listened to the 22-year-old Tiger and, while sympathetic to his situation, McLachlan explained why Bolton was in the wrong.
Twenty-thousand dollars in the wrong is a hefty teaching lesson, mind you.
Richmond had gone down a similar path with Bolton in the aftermath of the early May brawl in a city nightclub.
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The Tigers supported the actions of Dan Rioli and Bolton for standing up for partners and mates but, at the same time, deplored the violence.
Clearly, they had sympathies for a young man who was out on the town and who acted on “instinct” after witnessing his great mate being clocked by a person unknown.
It can happen and does happen.
What McLachlan was relaying is why it shouldn’t happen.
Rioli escaped penalty from the AFL for confronting the bloke who harassed his partner, while Bolton copped a $20,000 fine — a donation to charity — for confronting the bloke who punched Rioli.
And nothing for the “bloke’’ who started it and ended it.
Still, there’s questions to be answered about exactly what happened. Like, how did Bolton fracture his wrist?
The AFL and Richmond won’t say, nor do they think it’s important.
The Tigers did not dispute the punishment.
Although they said, in the days after the incident, the players would not be penalised, the AFL integrity team believed otherwise. In a two-horse race with a club, always back AFL Integrity.
Bolton’s apology doesn’t mean he was outright guilty, nor should he be classified as a thug or a brawler.
He’s a young man with a fierce sense of loyalty.
He’s also asked to be aggressive, confrontational and to support his mate for two hours every weekend on the field.
But then, in a moment of conflict off it, he is asked to bury that very competitiveness which is otherwise demanded of him.
Yes, he should’ve walked away, but sometimes it’s easier said than done.
On available evidence — we don’t know if Bolton punched the bloke or not — the $20K fine is far too much to make a point to the rest of society about walking away from violence.
It’s fantasy land if you believe the fine will discourage violence in pubs and a club, or at homes.
A $5000 fine was sufficient. Point made. Move on.
The fine also seems excessive when compared to incidents on the field this year.
Melbourne’s Bailey Fritsch’s “instinctive’’ reaction to fend off with an elbow into the face North’s Tom Powell was not penalised at all.
What the AFL is trying to do is set an example.
Bolton is a victim of loyalty and, by extension, his instinctive behaviour — which could have “escalated” the situation.
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“I’ve thought about what happened recently and what could have happened as a result of my actions,” Bolton said on Tuesday.
“When I saw what happened to Daniel, I acted on instinct. I now know that my instincts were wrong and that my actions could have led to a far more serious outcome.
“I want to say publicly that I made the wrong choice, and I am sorry for getting involved in the manner that I did.
“The right choice is to walk away from trouble or for me to do whatever I could to stop what was happening and not do something that could make it worse.’’
The thing is, Bolton and Rioli did not lie about what happened, and neither did Tigers coach Damien Hardwick and chief executive Brendon Gale betray their own beliefs about standing up for loved ones and mates.
They just wish the violence was avoided — as we all do.
It’s what McLachlan tried to explain the benefits of to Bolton on Friday.
No violence means no broken hand, no missed games and no $20,000 fine.
In theory, McLachlan is right. In practice, well, that’s the challenge.
Still, $20,000 — and for whoever is paying — is far too harsh when the bloke who started it is probably walking around thinking he’s a hero
TIGERS COP BIG WHACK FOR NIGHTCLUB BRAWL
Richmond midfielder Shai Bolton has apologised for his involvement in a nightclub fight and he and the club have agreed to pay $20,000 to charity after an AFL investigation found his actions contributed to the seriousness of the incident. Bolton suffered a broken wrist in the clash after coming in to defend teammate Daniel Rioli, who was struck in the face.
Rioli has been cleared of any wrongdoing, but the investigation found that Bolton exacerbated the situation with his actions.
“I’ve thought about what happened recently and what could have happened as a result of my actions,” Bolton said.
“When I saw what happened to Daniel, I acted on instinct. I now know that my instincts were wrong and that my actions could have led to a far more serious outcome.
“I want to say publicly that I made the wrong choice, and I am sorry for getting involved in the manner that I did.
“The right choice is to walk away from trouble or for me to do whatever I could to stop what was happening and not do something that could make it worse.
“Violence is never OK no matter the circumstances, and I want to share that message with everyone. The right choice is to walk away.”
Richmond and Bolton will make a $20,000 donation to Tomorrow Man which works with boys and men to develop healthy masculinity.
AFL General Counsel Andrew Dillon said Bolton’s actions “had potential to cause a much worse situation for all involved.”
“Shai understands the choice he made was the wrong one, he has acknowledged his mistake and is now accountable for his actions.”
“This is a message that is bigger than our playing group, it is a message to everyone in the community, regardless of age, profession or circumstances – walk away, violence is never the answer.”
While Tigers coach Damien Hardwick initially backed Bolton’s actions to defend a teammate who was trying to protect his girlfriend, Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale stressed the club did not condone violence in any form.
“We encourage our players to do everything possible to de-escalate these situations and to walk away, regardless of the circumstances,” Gale said.
“Getting involved in any altercation is not okay, and that is a message we will reiterate to our players.”
“These can be highly volatile situations and Shai has acknowledged his mistakes. We all need to learn from it.”
The club has said the matter is now closed.
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