Richmond's Shai Bolton looms as one of the more interesting out of contract players in the AFL.
The forward’s value has skyrocketed this year, kicking goals in big games and finding more of the ball.
He has gone from an x-factor player to a star. His efforts against Essendon in Round 12 arguably separated the two teams.
Bolton’s manager Ralph Carr has stated his client is in no rush to re-sign with Richmond and while he could find a huge pay day elsewhere, David King believes Bolton should stick with the Tigers.
“It’s very simple. Shai Bolton, if you want to go and earn $1 million a season, you can go and get it, but that will still be there in three years time,” King told SEN’s Whateley.
“Right now, we’re in the window. We’ve already won our flags and we’re going again.
“We’ve probably got two or three more opportunities here.
“So you can sit back, and you’ll hardly be a pauper, you’ll probably be on $650,000 a year. Which is great money for you at your age while you build your reputation and your craft, while you destroy the competition.
“We want to build you into the next Dustin Martin. So go and ask Dustin what it was like when he could have gone to the Kangaroos. He stayed and look at it now.
“The money is the money now. It corrects. If your career goes on the trajectory, and all these other clubs are telling you that it will, but stay here, follow the course that Dustin’s mapped out for you.
“Put a five-year period together of excellence, then cash in. This kid’s going nowhere. Why would you leave?
“The grass is always greener, I get that. In terms of finance, it’s attractive that you’re worth that sort of investment. Richmond are the most enjoyable team to be involved in. They’ve got enough stars that not all of them have to star every week.
“And it’s about winning flags. You’d rather win another premiership and leave a couple hundred thousand dollars on the floor over a 10-year period.”
Bolton and the Tigers flew back to Sydney following Dreamtime, but will fly back to Perth to take on West Coast on Sunday night.