Kelly an inspiration for Tiger debutant
IN a week that’s all about football, Shai Bolton tried to make it about anything but that.
The 20-year-old’s preGrand Final plan was always to focus on things other than footy in a bid to keep his nerves in check.
And it worked perfectly for the crafty forward, finishing Saturday’s 89-point win with 11 touches and a goal.
“My phone had been going off crazy (during the week), I had to chuck it away, turn it off and focus on today,” Bolton said. I kind of didn’t want to focus on things. I didn’t want to talk about it (football).
“I said to my family I don’t want to talk about football, I want to relax. So that’s all I did.
“I just played some games, chilled with family, had some dinner.”
Deep in the bowels of the MCG after the game, Bolton looked at the medal around his neck in disbelief.
He had played six games in 2017 when the Tigers triumphed over Adelaide, but lost his place in the team after Round 19.
But the West Australian was a key cog in the Tigers’ forward line in 2019, playing 19 games on his way to a flag.
“It’s unreal. Everyone dreams of winning a premierRICHMOND premiership hero Marlion Pickett says good mate Tim Kelly gave him the inspiration to continue to chase his AFL dream.
And the 27-year-old mature age recruit was rewarded for his persistence, playing a crucial role in the Tigers’ 89point domination of GWS at the MCG on Saturday.
After being looked at by AFL clubs in five drafts, Kelly eventually got his chance at Geelong and has quickly established himself as one of the best players in the competition.
Pickett, who was taken in the mid-season draft by Richmond, scored his debut in the grand final, finishing with 22 touches and a goal, in a perfect first AFL game.
The fellow West Australian said watching Kelly thrive at AFL level kept him motivated to make it at the highest level.
“I spoke to him (Kelly) on Thursday,” Pickett said. “He just said good luck and that he’d back me in all the way.
“His story is a good story as well. He was overlooked for five years. Everyone underrated him and now he has just smashed it.”
Kelly has advocated for clubs to take a punt on Pickett and earlier this season wrote in the Geelong Advertiser that his mate was a star in the making.
“He is brilliant off halfback, got pace to burn off a wing, strong for his size in the forward line and tough enough to excel as an inside midfielder,” Kelly wrote.
“A few clubs looked at him in last year’s draft and he was close, seemingly very close, to getting the AFL opportunity he deserved, but ultimately it never came.
“When I left South Fremantle to come over to Geelong at the end of 2017, he effectively took my place in the midfield and quickly flourished, taking his game to a whole new level.
“I think he has the versatility and talent to slip straight into AFL life. I’d love to see my good mate out there later this year, even if he’s on the opposition.”
Pickett said after the match that his mind was “all over the shop” as he tried to comprehend becoming a premiership player so early in his career.
“I am just trying to get over it, I can’t believe it,” he said.