Bolton happy to stay on a roll

THE AFL’S quirkiest contract will continue unchanged this year despite Brendon Bolton’s deal turning into an employment contract without protection.

Bolton signed a rolling contract that made him a member of Carlton’s staff, but if he was sacked early he had financial security for the first three seasons. The former Hawks assistant enters the third season of his contract this year as the Blues attempt to rise up the ladder after two seasons of rebuilding.

John Worsfold will this week sign a new two-year extension, meaning Bolton will be the only AFL coach without financial protection this year.

But both the Blues and Bolton are comfortable not to alter the terms of agreement despite its unique nature.

They believe if in future years Bolton wants more security — or a rival comes knocking — they can change the nature of the contract at a later date.

As a coach with a rebuilding team and the faith of the club’s hierarchy Bolton is under no pressure at the Blues this year.

The contract will be pressure-tested if Carlton fails to improve as expected or overachieves in coming years and rival clubs attempt to poach Bolton. Bolton, who Chris Judd dubbed the most ambitious person he had met in football this week, has so far thrilled Carlton’s powerbrokers with his game plan and player development.

The plan was put in place by Blues chief executive Steven Trigg, who handed Neil Craig a rolling contract late in his role as Adelaide senior coach.

He was sacked by July of that year (2011), but his situation is very different from that of first-time coach Bolton.

Under Gary Pert the Pies were keen to put Nathan Buckley on continuing oneyear deals but relented last year with a two-season deal.

It is not known if there are out clauses or payouts to limit Collingwood’s financial commitment if he does not last the full two seasons.

AFL Coaches Association chief executive Mark Brayshaw is in favour of more rolling contracts, believing they reduce constant speculation.

“Those agreements are brilliant,’’ Brayshaw said recently.

“I spoke to Neil Craig who had one at Adelaide and he said it took the debate in a different direction. You are on staff and you don’t have to deal with it. It is something the industry should look at.”