The Tigers are highly likely to land wantaway Tiger Shai Bolton, with a deal expected to be struck next week for the versatile star.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s Trading Day, North Melbourne champion David King outlined how the acquisition of Bolton could have a “domino effect” for Fremantle.
“If he stays at Richmond, he gets tagged every week… he goes over there and they’ve got Hayden Young, Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw, these guys in the middle that take all the heat and all the attention,” King began.
“He’s going to run around unopposed. What’s he going to be able to do under that system in the forward half of the ground? I love this. He’s got the capability of having that 35-40 goal, average 25 touches type season.”
Hawthorn champion Jordan Lewis believes Bolton could create “nightmares” for opposition coaches.
“He’s clearly an A-grade player. You look at what they add to that particular side, he will be an absolute jet centre forward for them and allow them to do more things in the middle of the ground and ask more questions of the opposition, which is a nightmare,” Lewis said.
“He turns the needle there for sure,” Herald Sun journalist Glenn McFarlane added.
“It’s the cream on the cake,” his colleague Jay Clark said.
King highlighted Brisbane’s star-studded midfield as an example of what could eventuate at Fremantle, should they land Bolton as expected.
The Lions have a wealth of talent in their on-ball brigade, including two-time Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale and former Bulldog Josh Dunkley.
Then there’s the dynamic duo of Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry, while young gun Will Ashcroft has been a superb addition since returning from an ACL injury.
The plethora of talent on ball saw Ashcroft get off the chain on grand final day, winning the Norm Smith medal.
“My point is if you can have one more than the opposition can handle. Brisbane’s midfield in the grand final, Ashcroft was one more than they could handle. They were worried about McCluggage, worried about Neale and then the extra one goes to town on you,” King said.
The Lions will add star draft prospects Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall as well this off-season, given the father-son and academy links to the club.
King believes something similar could be brewing at the Dockers.
Caleb Serong is an absolute ball magnet; Hayden Young has become one of the game’s most damaging players while Andrew Brayshaw is a skilled operator as well.
They’ve got two of the best rucks in the League on their books in Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy and we haven’t even mentioned Nat Fyfe, but admittedly he is in the twilight years of his career.
Bolton could be the missing piece to rocket the Dockers back into top four contention in 2025.
“If it’s Bolton, whoever it is, it’s breaking point with the domino effect,” King finished.
The AFL Trade Period concludes on Wednesday October 16.
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