Bolton’s ready for higher level
OF the many revelations that came during the 2018 AFL season, perhaps none was more significant than the emergence of Tim Kelly as a bona fide midfield star.
Recruiters already knew of Kelly’s exploits via his form for South Fremantle in the WAFL, where, in 2017, he finished second in the Sandover Medal.
But either side of that season, another player was busy toiling away for Claremont and catching the eye of umpires and AFL club scouts.
Jye Bolton’s dominance was so thorough in those two years that he claimed both the 2016 and 2018 Sandover Medals, and after sitting through ‘about seven’ AFL drafts, the former Leopold on-baller says he is ready to show the football world what he can do at the highest level.
“You play against AFL-listed players and you feel like you’ve smashed them or beaten them on the day and then they go up and play AFL the week after, so it can be a little bit frustrating thinking ‘if I was on an AFL list over the past few years, would I have been playing AFL instead of state league?’” Bolton said.
“You think ‘is it merely because I am not on an AFL list that I am not playing AFL?’ So I played against guys over here like Dom Sheed, and he has gone in and out and then he was a grand final hero, so you think if you have matched it with him or beaten him, it gives you confidence that I think I would be able to come in and contribute to an AFL club.
“From what I have gathered, clubs are becoming more open to ready-made players.
“I think there are some recruiters who will look to find a diamond in the rough, an 18year-old who nobody gave a shot, but I think they are more open to someone who can come in and inject something into the club straight off the bat like a Tim Kelly or Brody Mihocek.
“That is the feedback I have been getting so that gives me a bit more confidence heading into this draft.”
Bolton, 26, spent time with Collingwood’s VFL program before moving to Western Australia, and in between his two league best-and-fairest awards was a fourth-place finish in 2017.
He still has family living in Victoria — including his girlfriend — and says that is a clear sign of the sacrifices he is prepared to make in order to earn a spot on an AFL list.
“If anyone gives me a chance I will be there in a heartbeat and ready to throw everything into it
“Location doesn’t really bother me too much, my girlfriend and family live in Melbourne, but I have been able to mover over to WA and go into a team and contribute straight away.”