Ultimate player ratings: Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane rate every Richmond player
How high should expectations be at Richmond in Adem Yze’s first season? One man in particular holds the keys. GLENN MCFARLANE AND JON RALPH rate every Tiger.
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Let’s not beat around the bush here.
Shai Bolton, it is time for you to put the Richmond football club on your back.
Richmond is attempting to defy footy logic under new coach Adem Yze by remaining in premiership calculations despite the loss of most of its flag heroes.
So as Richmond’s kids are fast-tracked while Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch try to hang on, it is time for Bolton to take over.
Criteria: Prediction of their 2024 performance based on their 2023 season, expected improvement and role in their side.
He is more than capable – 43.41 in 2022 and 31.29 last year while playing a dangerous mid-forward role but remains a wildly inaccurate shot at goal.
Adem Yze has flagged a predominantly forward role this year with less midfield time and that is where the challenge lies.
In a recent scrimmage Bolton had a dozen shots or involvements close to goal but only kicked two goals and more than half a dozen points.
Can Bolton turn from a blaster – kicking way more points than goals – into something closer to Charlie Cameron, who last year kicked 59.27.
It wasn’t even Cameron’s best year but he kicked 50 for the fourth time in five seasons.
If Bolton can slow down a racing brain to pick the best option – and split the big sticks – he could be Richmond’s best player by year’s end.
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