Star forward Shai Bolton is now a Fremantle Docker after the Club secured a trade with Richmond for the 25-year-old.

In the trade with Richmond, Fremantle received Bolton, pick 14 and a future third round selection in exchange for picks 10, 11 and 18.

Bolton has signed a five-year contract with Fremantle, keeping him at the Club until at least 2029.

The Katanning-born Bolton played for South Fremantle in the WAFL before being recruited by Richmond with pick No. 29 in the 2016 National Draft.

He has played 135 games for the Tigers, featuring in both the 2019 and 2020 premierships and has kicked 165 goals across his eight AFL seasons.

Bolton also comes with an illustrious list of individual awards including a 2019 AFL Rising Star nominee, the 2021 AFL Mark of the Year, a 2022 All Australian blazer, the 2024 Richmond leading goalkicker and five consecutive top five finishes in Richmond’s Jack Dyer Medal (2020, 2021,2022, 2023, 2024), including a third-place finish in 2023.

The 25-year-old played 22 games in 2024 across both the midfield and forward line, with his best game coming against St Kilda where he had 19 disposals, nine marks, four tackles and kicked four goals.

Bolton joins Fremantle with an impressive record at his new home ground of Optus Stadium, averaging 21.67 disposals, 4.6 marks, 3.5 tackles and 2.3 goals across his nine games at the ground. His 21 goals at Optus Stadium is the second most goals he’s kicked at a venue behind only the MCG.

Fremantle Head of Player Personnel David Walls said Bolton’s addition to the squad would complement the Club’s growing list.

“We are really excited to secure a player of Shai Bolton’s ability, which is exactly what we need,” Walls said.

“His ball use, creativity, speed and ability to break lines makes him such a dangerous player.

“He just has flair and X factor that will give teammates an immediate lift.

“He’s also really durable and consistent finishing top five in Richmond’s B&F for the last five years.

“He’s a gun player who was contracted for four years so Richmond aren’t just going to give him away.

“We are over the moon to have a player like Shai on our list.

“We still have picks in a really deep draft this year and we are also set up well for next year’s.

“We identified Shai as a footballer and a person who can absolutely complement the list we are building and fit the strategy we have been committed to over the last five years.”