Shai Bolton seeks Tigers exit, Fremantle and West Coast interested

Tigers star midfielder Shai Bolton and his representatives have opened talks with Richmond about leaving the club. The 25-year-old has not requested a trade, but he does want to move. Fremantle and West Coast are the major contenders to sign Bolton as he wants to move back to Western Australia. 

Bolton wants out 

Shai Bolton signed a new five-year contract with Richmond Tigers just 18 months ago. This means his current deal runs through the 2028 AFL season. The overall contract is worth $6 million. All this hasn’t stopped Bolton from wanting out of his contract now though.  
 
According to The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph, Bolton is looking for a way out of Richmond for “family reasons.” The 25-year-old and his partner are expecting their second child before the end of the year. The report says, with his second child coming soon, that Bolton would like to move back home to Western Australia to be closer to family.  
 
His agent, Anthony Van Der Wielen, admitted to Fox Sports that Bolton does want a move out. Strangely though, Van Der Wielen says that Bolton “has not requested a trade.” 
 
“With a young family and strong ties to Perth, the prospect of being closer to home is appealing to him. However, Shai is not making any demands of Richmond and fully understands that he has four years remaining on his current contract,” Van Der Wielen said in a statement.  

Dockers and Eagles interested 

With Bolton’s intentions to move back to West Australia being clear, Fremantle and West Coast are immediate contenders to sign the young star. Dockers look the best suited to sign Bolton though.  
 
Fremantle have an absolutely massive war chest right now. The Dockers own four draft picks that they could send to Richmond in exchange for Bolton. They have picks 9 (from Magpies), 10 (their own), 17 (from Port Adelaide) and 26 (from St. Kilda). 
 
West Coast could send a solid offer with picks 3 and 23 in the upcoming draft, but it likely would not be enough to get Bolton. There are also questions about whether he fits their timeline. The Eagles are one of the worst teams in the league this season and probably would be better off keeping their picks instead of chasing a proven star.  

Tigers, meanwhile, could end up with an astonishing 10 picks in this year’s draft if they get all four picks from Fremantle for Bolton. Reports say Dockers will ask for at least two first rounders for Bolton. Future picks might also be enough to get the deal done.