Richmond has been able to create a full team buy-in over the last few years which has coincided with the club’s recent success.
Much has been made of the fact that all 22 Tigers who play on a given day simply execute their role for Damien Hardwick and his coaching staff.
One case in point is promising youngster Shai Bolton who ventured into the midfield during this season to great effect.
Bolton had spent the majority of his first 30 or so AFL games operating as a small forward before Hardwick called him into the middle to cover for the likes of Dion Prestia, Shane Edwards and Trent Cotchin who were absent for varying reasons.
In last Friday night’s Semi-Final win over St Kilda, the 21-year-old was back in attack to finish with three goals in a blistering performance as Edwards (two goals, 21 disposals), Prestia (17 touches), Cotchin (19 possessions) and Dustin Martin (25 disposals and one goal) in particular did the business in and around the centre.
Garry Lyon and Tim Watson discussed the team-first mindset at Richmond and how the players have the ability and eagerness to play different roles.
“The only way you can make it work is if you have a total team buy-in which Richmond have,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“When they’re not there, Shai Bolton goes into the middle of the ground and elevates himself to one of the really good midfielders.
“When you’re team-first, when Edwards comes back, when you’re a competitor and you’re proud, you go, ‘Hang on, you asked me to do this, I’ve played in the middle, I’ve been outstanding and now you want me out?’.
“Not only did he accept it, he then goes forward and lights the joint up as a forward.
“That is when you know your team is absolutely on point.”
Watson responded to Lyon’s sentiments, indicating that Bolton has emerged as a more well-rounded player having gained midfield experience and taken on added responsibility.
“That is a really good point,” Watson said.
“Shai Bolton would have been wanting the chance to get into the midfield. What happened provided him with that opportunity. Edwards going out of the team for those reasons, Prestia not being available.
“So they said to him, ‘Here, this is what you wanted to be able to do. Prove to us that you can do it’, and he’s done that.
“In doing that though, what it’s done for his confidence is it’s helped him to grow and mature enormously as a player. Maybe that’s helped him be able to accept what he’s had to accept.
“He’s become a much better player as a result of that.”
Bolton enjoyed a breakout 2019 season when playing 19 games including the victorious Grand Final and has followed that up with 15 goals in 17 games this season while averaging a career-best 15.9 disposals and 3.4 clearances.
The “team-first” Tigers are preparing for their fourth straight Preliminary Final which takes place at the Adelaide Oval against minor premiers Port Adelaide on Friday night.