Shai Bolton requests trade from Richmond as Fremantle circle Chad Warner
Richmond star Shai Bolton has officially requested a trade home to Western Australia.
The premiership Tiger has formally told the club he wants to be traded, despite four years remaining on a contract believed to be worth over $1 million, the Herald Sun reports.
It’s understood Bolton has requested the move for family reasons.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Both Fremantle and West Coast are understood to be interested in the 25-year-old, with the Dockers’ trio of first-round picks likely to put them firmly in the box seat.
Their current draft hand in the first two rounds is picks 9 (linked to Collingwood), 10, 17 (linked to Port Adelaide) and 26.
The Eagles are also interested but are unlikely to have enough draft capital to satisfy the Tigers, although a trade with Hawthorn for star defender Tom Barrass could improve their chances.
Meanwhile, the Dockers also have interest in Sydney superstar Chad Warner, who is contracted until the end of 2025.
Bolton would fill the Dockers’ need for a elite and agile small forward, who can provide a spark in the midfield when called upon and gave the perfect audition in their round 17 clash, kicking four goals and notching up 16 touches.
Richmond declared earlier this season that he would not be traded under any circumstances and Bolton is aware rival clubs would need to pay overs to secure him, given he only signed a new deal at the end of 2022.
Richmond’s GM of Football Tim Livingstone in June knocked back suggestions he could be on the trade table.
“I think 17 clubs would be interested in Shai, wouldn’t they?” Livingstone told SEN.
“He’s a star player, he’s loved at our club and he loves being at our club and he’s a contracted player.
“I’m not interested in getting involved in that sort of rumour.”
The Tigers are already set to lose out-of-contract pair Liam Baker, who is expected to return to Perth at season’s end, and Jack Graham, who appears likely to join West Coast as a free agent.
Daniel Rioli is also set to depart Tigerland and reunite with three-time premiership coach Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast.
The Tigers and Suns will battle it out in both clubs’ final game of the season on Saturday, with Richmond on track to win its first wooden spoon since 2007.
