Tigers sign Dusty's heir apparent to big new deal

1 year ago 102

Richmond has locked distant the rising prima that volition hopefully beryllium the club's adjacent "No.1" aft Dustin Martin departs.

The Tigers connected Tuesday announced a five-year declaration hold for Shai Bolton, 24, which ties him to Punt Road until the extremity of the 2028 AFL season.

He has already cemented his spot among the game's elite talents, and the Tigers anticipation helium tin beryllium the semipermanent replacement for Martin's X-factor.

Martin, 31, has 2 years remaining connected his contract, but speculation is rife helium won't spot that woody to the end.

The three-time Norm Smith Medallist was undoubtedly the champion and astir influential subordinate successful the competition, but a superior kidney wounded successful 2021 followed by ongoing hamstring issues successful 2022 - arsenic good arsenic the decease of his begetter earlier this twelvemonth - person near his vocation successful the achromatic and yellowish successful limbo.

Richmond is determined to support Martin, but with his vocation winding down, Bolton is the heir evident to that throne.

In July, Geelong large Cameron Mooney tipped Bolton to overtake Martin arsenic the club's starring man.

"We're seeing a genuine shot prima conscionable emergence successful beforehand of our eyes this year," Mooney said.

"If Dusty (Martin) does determine to leave, this antheral volition instrumentality implicit the mantle arsenic their No.1.

"Wait until helium gets 100-150 games nether his belt, propulsion him unto the midfield, he'll destruct teams."

Bolton earned his archetypal All-Australian guernsey this twelvemonth by averaging 18 disposals per crippled and booting 43 goals for the Tigers.

He ranked No.3 successful the AFL this twelvemonth for people involvements.

"I person loved the nine since I got drafted," Bolton said aft re-signing.

"I emotion the civilization here, each the boys, the coaching unit and playing astatine the MCG.

"It was beauteous casual to determine successful the extremity … I americium ace excited to enactment here."

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