Shai Bolton set to re-sign at Richmond despite big offers from West Coast and Fremantle

West Coast and Fremantle have put big offers to Tiger Shai Bolton after a scintillating start to 2021. Here’s how much he could pocket.

Maurice Rioli has impressed since arriving at the Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

West Coast and Fremantle have been told to give up their chase for high-flying Tigers star Shai Bolton given his loyalty to his teammates at Punt Road.

Bolton and teammate Daniel Rioli have declined to press charges over the nightclub brawl that left the 22-year-old West Australian with a fractured wrist.

Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale said on Tuesday Bolton’s incident would not affect a new deal, with the quicksilver mid-forward out of contract at the end of 2021.

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The West Australian clubs will now shift their focus elsewhere after being informed by his manager Ralph Carr he was happy at Tigerland.

Carr told the Herald Sun in March his client “would stay”, but rivals would have offered him upwards of $800,000 a year given his line-breaking, game-winning ability.

The AFL’s integrity department will investigate Saturday night’s incident to ensure the version of events to ensure there is no issue that requires further investigation.

Richmond will resist the temptation to rush back Sydney Stack or blood exciting father-son draft pick Maurice Rioli Jr despite the pair showing encouraging VFL form.

Richmond had a VFL bye last week, but young trio Patrick Naish, Hugo Ralphsmith and Will Martyn are all in consideration.

Shai Bolton has been offered big money to leave Richmond.

The Tigers will face a Greater Western Sydney side that ranks fourth for clearance differential in the past month.

Richmond is missing skipper Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards, Bolton and Dion Prestia, who combined for 23 Grand Final clearances, as well as hard-running high half forward Kane Lambert all through injury.

Dylan Grimes will return from concussion, and the Tigers will rely upon the game’s best player in Dustin Martin as well as hard-running midfielder Jack Graham to have more influence.

Grand Final hero Marlion Pickett could also be injected into the centre square after successful ruck cameos and a strong centre-square performance against the Bulldogs.

Naish has been the medical sub in the past two weeks, coming on late in each game.

But his VFL form is exceptional, while Will Martyn was strong in the VFL against Werribee after a single AFL game earlier this year.

Stack returned to Punt Road late after a serious of COVID dramas and played his best game two weeks ago.

After three VFL contests the Tigers are determined to set up him up to succeed with full match fitness and strong form before he plays AFL.

Fremantle and West Coast have been keen to lure Shai Bolton back to WA.

Rioli also shows brilliant signs as a hard-tackling half forward but the prospect of him making a debut around Dreamtime at the ‘G in Round 12 is an enticing prospect.

Gale said on SEN radio the Tigers were confident of getting a deal done on Bolton.

“We’re in discussions with Shai and with Ralph and they’re very constructive and at the right spot and this will have no bearing on those discussions,” Gale said.

“I’m confident that he won’t be going anywhere. He loves it here, he thrives here, he really belongs here. Formalities will take place and it will run its course. You don’t want to put a date on these things but we’re very confident that he’ll be a Richmond player.”

“This (incident) will have no bearing on those discussions.

“I‘m confident he won’t be going anywhere. He loves it here, he thrives here and really belongs here.”

Richmond’s eight options to save ‘obliterated’ midfield

—Jon Ralph

Richmond has boasted about its depth for seasons and yet just when it will be tested the Tigers might be found wanting.

Damien Hardwick would love to have a handful of dominant midfielders bursting down the door at VFL level ready to take up the slack.

But Richmond’s VFL side had a bye this weekend.

And the previous week they were smacked around by Werribee in an 81-point defeat.

Not only are four of the club’s five best midfielders out, Shai Bolton’s month-long wrist injury will strip the silk from their forward line.

As Hardwick said, his midfield has been “obliterated”, with Kane Lambert, Dion Prestia, Shane Edwards and Trent Cotchin all out.

Last year Prestia and Edwards were injured but back in 2019 the Tigers clearance stats went like this: Prestia 148, Dustin Martin 98, Edwards 86, Cotchin 66, Lambert 49.

How will Richmond replace Shai Bolton? Picture: Getty Images

So who are the kids waiting in the wings for Richmond?

The Tigers might just have to make a bold call on Sydney Stack’s return despite wanting to give him more VFL time.

And they will need Jack Graham and Jack Ross to step up, with the much-hyped Riley Collier-Dawkins only playing his third game against GWS.

As chief executive Brendon Gale said on SEN Radio on Tuesday, it’s time for Generation Next to stand up.

“In the cold light of day we’re a footy club and we’re in a position where we don’t have too many midfielders available at the moment,” he said.

”So because of this situation they’ve found themselves in, which we understand is regrettable, we’re without Shai for the next three weeks.

“Every cloud has a silver lining and I guess one of the problems with being a winning team over the last few years is we haven’t had an opportunity to play a lot of the young players.

“Now our hand has been forced. So I think the mood here is one of real excitement, of anticipation of the challenges that lay ahead. Yeah, we’ve got some opposition the next few weeks who are going to be really tough, but we’re going to get some good looks at some young players who we’ve been dying to get in the team for a while.”

Here are the eight contenders to make their mark in coming weeks as the 4-4 Tigers take on GWS, Brisbane, Adelaide and Essendon.

Will the Tigers turn to Sydney Stack? Picture: Michael Klein

SYDNEY STACK

The versatile Indigenous firebrand has now played three games back after his turbulent summer and might just be ready after the best of them came against Werribee.

He had 16 possessions and 92 ranking points, including four clearances, four tackles, six inside 50s and six score involvements.

If the Tigers want some added hardness for a player who probably isn’t quite ready after his summer was wiped out with COVID issues, he is their man.

They might just need to take a risk on a player with massive talent.

MAURICE RIOLI JR

In an ideal world the Tigers would throw in Maurice Rioli’s son given the romance of his debut and allow him to star on the big stage.

But they know despite his exceptional cameos at VFL level he isn’t quite ready given his fitness levels.

Against Werribee he went goalless despite nine tackles, 13 possessions and three clearances.

The Tigers will want to set him up to succeed on the biggest stage, not throw him in out of desperation.

His highlights reel is already exceptional and Hardwick says he is closer than the club believed but it would surprise if he played GWS.

Maurice Rioli is unlikely to come in for the Tigers just yet. Picture: Getty Images

PATRICK NAISH

Naish’s VFL form is exceptional but his issue is as a hard-running half back, he’s not the positional type the Tigers need.

In his three VFL games he has logged 33, 30 and 19 possessions for 121, 100 and 71 ranking points. Like Oleg Markov before him he would love more chances but might have to wait until Bachar Houli retires. He has had limited minutes as the Tigers sub but clearly has enough talent to play regularly at AFL level.

HUGO RALPHSMITH

The Tigers have huge wraps on wing-half forward Ralphsmith, taking him at pick 46 in the 2019 national draft.

But in two VFL games he’s been modest so far with six touches against Casey and then 19 (and 62 ranking points) against Werribee. They would love to throw him in as a Shai Bolton replacement, but it’s not realistic.

Hugo Ralphsmith has been playing in the VFL. Picture: Getty Images )

WILL MARTYN

Martyn’s VFL form has been excellent after a single AFL game where he didn’t quite adjust to the pace of the game in a 12-touch, 27-ranking point contest against Port Adelaide.

The no. 44 pick in the 2019 national draft is averaging 87 ranking points, five tackles, 22 touches and 9.3 contested possessions. He’s no Shane Edwards but he’s ready for another crack at AFL level if thrown in.

THOMSON DOW

Dow was impressive in scrimmages last year and made his AFL debut in Round 14, winning only 16 possessions in his two matches.

He’s coming back from injury this year and has played only a single VFL game against Werribee, winning 14 touches and 48 ranking points.

He will need more footy under his belt.

DEREK EGGMOLESSE-SMITH

The silky half back flanker was dropped after a single AFL game this year but was close to the Tigers’ best against Werribee with 110 ranking points, 27 possessions (24 kicks) and seven intercept possessions. The Tigers’ backline is intact so they would need to throw one of their defenders into the midfield to bring him back into the side.

JOSH CADDY

Caddy has fallen from favour, playing the first three games of the year before playing only one VFL game against Casey in Round 2. He didn’t play in Round 3 against Werribee.

But he has a mature body, can play wing, midfield or half forward, and has done it before an elite level. Surely he’s strongly considered by the match committee.

Originally published as Shai Bolton set to re-sign at Richmond despite big offers from West Coast and Fremantle