![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789672615_536_1ecd3a876adb7de8d96940cb7ea548dcc28f9be6.png\")
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September 17, 2026 \u2014 7:30pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Shai Bolton swerved like a waterskier from the corner of the centre square. He slid past Geelong players as they clutched at the air in an attempt to stop him.<\/p>\n Then the footy flew 60 metres from his boot as though launched from a ski-jump, and sailed through the goals.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n It was the moment in Friday night\u2019s win over Geelong that reminded everyone Bolton has returned to his best in Fremantle colours in 2026.<\/p>\n Former Dockers\u2019 great Michael Walters laughs when he recalls the moment when his friend and former teammate made Optus Stadium rock.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is one of those players who puts bums on seats,\u201d Walters said. \u201cBut he is also one of those players who leads by example by the way he plays on field…he is capable of special things.\u201d<\/p>\n The 27-year-old dual-premiership player is now threatening to be the player who closes the gap between the Dockers and that first premiership cup. It is not out of the question that he spends the next three seasons becoming one of the game\u2019s top-five players. His best is that good.<\/p>\n But last year Bolton\u2019s best was not on display. Fanfare surrounded his return to Perth, but a few niggling injuries hampered his first pre-season back in his home state. He subsequently began his career at the Dockers in an unfamiliar high-forward role after playing deep, or in the midfield, at the Tigers.<\/p>\n He did not feel as though his preparation was necessarily conducive to his best footy, either. And his coach, Justin Longmuir, had not yet realised how to get the best out of him.<\/p>\n Bolton didn\u2019t gain any momentum during the season and finished the season outside the top 10 in the club\u2019s best and fairest.<\/p>\n Much of that changed leading into 2026 as Longmuir and Bolton, who one source described as \u201ca pair of football nerds\u201d, discussed how to best harness his talents and adopted a plan that gave the dual-premiership Tiger the freedom to play his way.<\/p>\n A new high-performance director, Dr Adam Read, was appointed, Bolton\u2019s confidence in his fitness growing as they worked together. The program kept Bolton nimble, his fast feet and cat-like balance exposing Geelong\u2019s Bailey Smith early in the semi-final.<\/p>\n Bolton took on not only the No.10 of \u201cSonny\u201d Walters, but the responsibility and status Walters carried in the locker room after his brilliant 239-match career at Fremantle ended. Small forward Isaiah Dudley has been one beneficiary of his advice, which arrives sparingly but with real impact.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cHe doesn\u2019t take everything overly serious and that is important, especially when you are trying to build connection with the young boys. [They are] able to feel comfortable around him. He is able to be serious but he knows how to switch it off at times and focus on his family life and be a normal human and enjoy the off-field stuff as well,\u201d Walters said.<\/p>\n After Hayden Young suffered an injury in round one, Bolton was sent into the centre square. His pace around the ground and explosion from stoppage sparked the Dockers\u2019 more aggressive ball movement, and it also allowed them to exploit the stand rule better.<\/p>\n Bolton began to flourish. Around the footy is where he believes he plays his best football, and he is showing that faith is justified. His opening two minutes against the Cats showed why he has the capacity to be the most damaging midfielder in the game.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wants to be the game\u2019s best player,\u201d said a source, who preferred to remain anonymous as they weren\u2019t authorised to speak publicly.<\/p>\n In 2026, playing as a midfielder, Bolton has kicked 23 goals and 13 behinds. He generates shots at goal as regularly as a chicken lays eggs. Over the previous four seasons he has averaged 65 scoring shots a season.<\/p>\n Sometimes he appears to lack care as to which side of the post the ball goes but those who know him best say that is a misread.<\/p>\n Bolton is a born competitor who feels most comfortable on the football field or with his family: partner Hasina and their two children.<\/p>\n Family was the reason he departed the Tigers at the end of 2024 to return to Western Australia. Richmond reluctantly but with full respect sorted out a trade with the Dockers despite him having four years left on a contract.<\/p>\n He was 17 when the Tigers recruited him with pick 29 in the 2016 national draft. They watched him develop into a star who played in the 2019 and 2020 premierships.<\/p>\n His mum, Kylie, lent her boy great support as he adjusted to life on the other side of the country. He was a featherweight and didn\u2019t initially understand what it would take to make it.<\/p>\n But he earned the respect of all at Richmond for the drive, toughness and competitiveness that underpinned his talent.<\/p>\n Bolton won mark of the year in 2021, was All-Australian the next season and third in the Tigers\u2019 best and fairest in 2023.<\/p>\n Related Article Off the field he exuded cool, but it was natural. Those who know the softly spoken father say he has a calm confidence. When he gets to know and trust someone, he\u2019s cheeky, too.<\/p>\n But the element of Bolton\u2019s game that often goes unstated is critical to the Dockers\u2019 push towards their maiden flag.<\/p>\n Bolton is a tackle breaker.<\/p>\n While Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw and Hayden Young<\/a> are the midfielders most associated with the grunt and grind needed to prevail in tight finals, Dockers insiders say Bolton\u2019s ability to keep his feet and extract himself from an opponent\u2019s grasp is the best in the team.<\/p>\n With the Dockers chasing a pre-game objective to take the tackler on, Bolton\u2019s Houdini-like efforts against Geelong were inspirational, restoring the faith that had been tested eight days earlier.<\/p>\n \u201cHe keeps moving. He stays balanced and if you tackle him, he makes you work for every inch. He is able to use his illusiveness and his agility to push off opponents and wriggle out of tackles by moving a certain way. That is what he is known for as well as the jumping on heads and kicking incredible goals,\u201d Walters said. \u201cTo tackle him … he makes you earn it.\u201d<\/p>\n Fremantle forced the Cats to concede a record 10 broken tackles in the first half of the semi-final.<\/p>\n If they can do the same against the Swans, who stuck their tackles against the Lions<\/a>, Bolton (whose dad Darren played two games for the Dockers in 1999) will wear No.10 on to the MCG on grand final day.<\/p>\n![\"Shai](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/781bf734b3ddf6b5bafdcbd71806a0a8442ec26d.jpeg\")
Shai Bolton celebrates the Dockers\u2019 win over Geelong. AFL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Bolton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/9784dddb5d61fbeb474d0ffc97fb372b4471140c.jpeg\")
Bolton celebrates with Andrew Brayshaw after his magical goal inside the first two minutes of the semi-final against the Cats.AFL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Friday\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789672617_289_459903946ba6d68d6d02f7eed5d25e5e3bfb0235d0306729d0d1f16d0e800542.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Dual](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bc5299a698d496206c7836b3adb1803691dff71a.jpeg\")
Dual premiership player Shai Bolton is one of three Dockers who have played in premierships at another club. AFL Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Bolton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/d2c1dba7909c15ef1e0818f6febbea850af87703.jpeg\")
Bolton celebrates a goal. AFL Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/aade4263974d6da94bcab96af41bf63ffd2f0172.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/6528c6ff77f78edbd8a825c8baece8a834ac1846.jpeg\")
Michael Walters and Bolton together. Getty Images<\/p>\n
![\"Joel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/6a68b6f37ab2a0c3691210464bf87cab434c1a4c.jpeg\")
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