Dockers thinking big in AFL after recruiting Bolton

Fremantle are bullish about where they will be in 12 months’ time after landing two-time AFL premiership player player Shai Bolton.

Apart from the massive boost Bolton will give to their 2025 finals hopes, Fremantle list boss David Walls is also upbeat about the prospect of attracting Chad Warner this time next year should the Sydney star want a return to his native WA.

The Dockers lost their last four games this season to drop out of the top-eight, but Walls is forecasting a quick rebound.

“We have a lot of guys now over 100 games’ experience. There was no real list turnover this year for us, so minimal changes,” Walls said.

“You add Shai in, and natural growth from within. So I think we’re heading towards being up there and really challenging.”

Walls’ public confidence contrasted sharply with his Gold Coast counterpart Craig Cameron. He was asked about the Suns’ finals prospects now they have secured another Richmond star, Daniel Rioli.

“It’s a brave list manager that makes that statement, when it’s a coach’s position to talk about it … and I’m not that brave,” Cameron said.

Fremantle gave up draft picks 10, 11 and 18 for Bolton, while also receiving the No.14 selection in the deal with Richmond, and Walls said the high price was “justified”.

“He’s a real need for us. He’ll be able to really elevate our side and give us something we haven’t got,” Walls said after the trade period ended on Wednesday night.

There is growing speculation about Warner, who is out of contract at the end of next season, and whether he might want to join Fremantle or West Coast.

“Where our club’s at, where the list is at, where the side is going, we’d be attractive to any player,” Walls said.

“We’ve given ourselves plenty of flexibility, too (with future draft picks) … to look at a number of different players.”

Bolton will make Dockers history next year, as the first son of a Fremantle player to play for the club.

His father Darren played two games for the club in 1999, alongside their current coach Justin Longmuir.