EXCLUSIVE
Emerging superstar Shai Bolton has re-committed to Richmond on a new deal. Bolton, 22, has agreed to terms on a fresh contract that will be announced soon, ending months of speculation over his future.
He had attracted the interest of Fremantle and West Coast, with the WA clubs keen to lure him back to his home state.
But the electrifying gamebreaker was always likely to stay with the Tigers. Sources said Bolton’s new deal would be worth somewhere in the vicinity of $600,000 a season – less than what he could have commanded on the open market.
He is happy and content at Punt Road, where he is already a dual premiership player and improving at a rapid rate of knots.
While his form has tapered off a fraction in recent weeks, Bolton has averaged 20 disposals and kicked 18.17 from his 17 games in 2021, including a mid-season purple patch where he starred against flag fancies Geelong, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs.
His cat-like agility at ground level, aerial prowess and finishing skills have seen him catch the eye in several games this year, despite Richmond’s rollercoaster campaign.
Bolton’s pending deal will follow that of teammates Jack Riewoldt, Shane Edwards and Jason Castagna, but intrigue surrounds the futures of unsigned trio Dan Rioli, Callum Coleman-Jones and unrestricted free agent Marbior Chol.
Veteran defender Bachar Houli, Kamdyn McIntosh and David Astbury also remain unsigned for 2022.