Shai Bolton’s colts coach Mark Foster says new Fremantle Dockers talent second to none

Shai Bolton’s colts coach also spent time in charge of dual Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps, but he still believes the new Fremantle forward is the most talented junior he has ever seen.

Mark Foster only had Bolton for 15 games during his stint as South Fremantle’s colts coach but in that time he witnessed a special player who has gone on to become one of the best small forwards in the AFL.

Bolton officially joined the Dockers on a five-year deal on Wednesday when they completed a trade with Richmond which had them land the 2022 All-Australian as well as pick 14 and a future third-round selection in exchange for picks 10, 11 and 18.

The acquisition of the two-time Tigers premiership star is viewed by many as the missing piece in the Dockers’ pursuit of a long-desired maiden premiership.

Foster said the Forrestdale junior was capable of things he’d not seen from other players achieve including Carlton superstar Cripps, having coached the dual Brownlow medallist at East Fremantle before he was drafted in 2013.

“I had him for one year and he was pretty freakish, that’s the most obvious thing,” Foster told The West Australian.

“He was a good talent, was very elusive and had beautiful skills so it was easy to see to be honest.

“Shai came off a bad back the year before, I missed it because I was at East Fremantle, but he was pretty special.”

Bolton kicked 37 goals in 15 games for the Bulldogs that season including an incredible seven-goal performance against East Perth to stamp himself on the radar of several clubs.

“I have been lucky enough to coach some good players but he was probably the most talented in terms of skill level,” Foster said when reflecting on Bolton’s performance against the Royals.

“For the raw talent he’s the best I’ve been involved with through playing or coaching. You knew if he got to the right environment he could be a special player.

“He has a good game sense and is clever around the footy for his size. He had all the attributes it was just more teaching him professionalism at that early age.

“That day he kicked seven he was just on. He is good over his head for his size so he’s a hard match-up for his size, especially at colts level because you needed someone tall enough to combat his overhead marking but at ground level he’s like a cat, he’s so quick.”

Bolton eventually landed at Richmond with pick No.29 in the 2016 draft and come his third season he was a premiership player, being a pivotal part of the Tigers’ 2019 and 2020 flags.

AFL draft expert Mick Ablett said Bolton stamped himself as a talent when he dominated an AFL All Stars game on the eve of the 2016 Grand Final collecting 16 touches, seven inside 50s and a goal in a classy performance in front of recruiters and list managers.

“The performance he put on at Punt Road that day it was electrifying and it was a lightbulb moment where it confirmed he belonged in the upper echelon of the draft,” Ablett said.

“It was his ability to find the ball. He just reaffirmed that he was more than a small forward, he was someone who could get higher up the ground and find the footy.

“His speed, evasiveness and quality of disposal. The damage he did with ball in hand that day was first class.”

Foster said there was initial concerns when Bolton was picked by the Tigers but in hindsight it was the perfect destination for the talented young man.

“When he went to Richmond they weren’t the most stable club so I remember we were interested to see how he would go because there was concerns about how he’d go away from family,” Foster said.

“He’s done pretty well in that space. Richmond was the best place for him to go but in 2016 they were struggling at the time.

“Shai played in a couple of flags early so it was a pretty good start.”