Shai Bolton’s arrival in his home state comes after a whirlwind month, which included the birth of his second child, as well as relocating their young family from Melbourne to Perth.
Bolton's first day at Fremantle’s headquarters was filled with excitement and a touch of nostalgia.
"My family and I are very excited to finally land. We've had a hectic couple of weeks, but we're glad to be back home now," Bolton shared.
"I've always been in Melbourne, and every time I've come here (to Perth), my family has been in the stands.
"It feels like playing junior football again, with all your family, cousins, and everyone watching you play. You just can't help but get excited."
The move west wasn’t just a career change for Bolton—it marked a major life milestone.
"It was hard at first, but now that we have all our family here, including my partner's family, it's great. We're excited to be back. It just feels good to finally be home," Bolton explained.
Touring the Club with his partner Hasina and two children, Bolton expressed his admiration for the facilities.
"It's massive, and I’m just thrilled because I’ve never really had access to something like this. I'm excited to be here and start training,” he said.
The prospect of donning the purple guernsey has Bolton buzzing with anticipation.
"I love the look of purple. I’ve been black and yellow for so long, but the change to purple suits me. I can’t wait to wear it on game day," he grinned.
The dynamic forward is also eager to reunite with his high school teammate, Quinton Narkle, who recently joined the Club as a Supplementary Selection Period pick, while forging connections with his new teammates.
“I can’t wait to play with Quinton. I’ve never played with him at the professional level, so I’m looking forward to training and playing together.... I’ve already met some of the other boys in Melbourne, and I’m excited to dive in and start training with them,” he said.
