Bolton refocuses goals after dream three years at ClaremontWednesday, September 19, 2018 - 11:22 AM - by Chris Pike

WITH two Sandover Medals and two Simpson Medals in his three WAFL seasons with Claremont, Jye Bolton would love for another AFL opportunity but should that not eventuate it's team success now at the Tigers that will be his focus in 2019.

Three years ago, Bolton received some advice from people he trusted that the WA style of football might suit him perfectly and if he wanted to get another chance in the AFL system after spending time at Collingwood, that might be his best bet.

It's fair to say the three years couldn’t have turned out better for the now 26-year-old with him backing up winning the Sandover and Simpson Medals in 2016 by doing the same in 2018 in what without question has been a superior season.

His 2017 season certainly was nothing to sneeze at either with Bolton still named to the WAFL Team of the Year averaging 31.3 possessions over the last 11 games while also playing for the WAFL State Team in the drought breaking win over Victoria in Melbourne.

Bolton was rewarded for his phenomenal 2018 season which saw him average 30.9 disposals a game by winning his second Sandover Medal in a thrilling vote count at Optus Stadium on Monday night that saw him poll 52 votes to win ahead of Subiaco captain Kyal Horsley.

While Bolton is craving that opportunity to show what he can do at AFL level with what he's done the past three years at Claremont, if that doesn't eventuate what he desperate wants in 2019 is for some success at the Tigers.

After winning an elimination final in 2018 over East Perth before losing in the first semi-final to Grand Finalists West Perth, Bolton will put everything into making Claremont a genuine premiership threat in 2019 if he's still at Tigerland.

"We've seen quite a bit of improvement even within this season just gone and we've seen all our young kids grow in confidence, and we've seen a lot more buy in from our whole group in terms of where we want to go and the direction we are going in," Bolton said.

"We have great instructions from Darren Harris and clear messages in terms of what we want to be like as a football club. 

"It just looks like we are all seeing that go in the right direction and if we have a big pre-season on the back of getting into the finals and getting a finals win, hopefully we can see better results next time."

While Bolton never goes into any season focusing on individual awards, if that helps him attract more attention by AFL clubs then he certainly won't be complain that if being a dual Simpson and Sandover Medallist helps him standout.

Bolton always strives to be the best he can be and having done so well in three years at Claremont in the WAFL, he is hungry for that second crack at AFL level.

But it's about much more than just being a prolific ball winning midfielder for Bolton and he has no question he is a better all-round player now than he was even back in 2016.

"I'm not sure if it adds weight to it or anything like that, but you hope that someone has recognised the efforts you've put in over the year and think you can provide something at an AFL level," he said.

"I'm really hoping that someone will give me a chance and I'll work as hard as I possibly can if I get that chance to make sure I repay the favour.

"You can't really start with running ability being your strength if you want to play AFL because it's expected that everyone has that running capacity. But other attributes I bring would be my contested ball but I can also win the ball on the outside so I bring a bit of dynamism to my game.

"With running power and my inside work as well as being able to go forward and kick a couple of goals, hopefully those are good strengths to look at. But I'm working on the defensive side of my game and am continually trying to get better at that and switching on earlier with my defensive transition. 

"The boys at Claremont have really been onto me about that and for me to try and pick up in that area. If I can keep improving on that and get into a full-time environment and work extra closely with the coaches, I could see even further development in my game."

As for his Sandover Medal triumph on Monday night, Bolton started the count on fire polling in each of Claremont's opening nine matches to already have 32 votes after Round 10.

But Horsley had kept pace with Bolton and then the Subiaco skipper led 37 votes to 36 after Round 15. A couple of four-vote matches in Rounds 16 and 17 saw Bolton regain the lead and then four votes in both Rounds 20 and 21 saw him secure the win for a second time in three years.

Bolton was lost for words afterwards even if he had been there before with the medal around his neck.

"I wasn't expecting it at all but it's an unbelievable feeling. I'm overwhelmed at this stage," Bolton said.

"It's hard to describe the feeling really. It is quite a bit of a whirlwind and coming to these events you hope you get recognised for your efforts to some degree, but if it comes off like this it's pretty overwhelming. I'm just going to let it sink in."

One thing looking back at his 2016 Sandover Medal win that Bolton hasn’t been able to forget was that his award-winning speech might not have quite been everything he hoped.

Even though he didn’t arrive Monday night expecting to win, he did have a speech planned just in case to avoid any added ammunition for him to receive a hard time about.

"I haven’t been thinking about it too much personally, but I tell you what my mates have not let up on it for two years straight," he said.

"One of my housemates, any time he can possibly get stuck into me about it, he brings up on Youtube on the TV in front of everyone and tries to embarrass me with it. I've been trying to work on that ever since."

Going back to the end of 2015 when Bolton was at the crossroads wondering if or how he could ever earn another AFL chance and also deciding where was best for him to settle down and live, there was everything about the Perth lifestyle and football that was enticing.

He couldn’t enjoy the Perth lifestyle anymore than he has the last three years and given his record as a player, it's fair to say playing in the WAFL suits him to a tee as well.

"I had been thinking about it for a few years before I came over and people who I trust with giving me advice on my football said that that grounds over here would suit the way I play in terms of the bigger grounds and the weather being a little bit drier," Bolton said.

"I really enjoy the hard-running, quick sort of football and they thought it would suit my game. So far I think that's proven to be the case.

"I've definitely grown in terms of leadership and off-field as well as really trying to share the workload quite a bit. It's funny how it works and it's ended up with an individual award when we are really trying to focus on playing more of a team role. 

"It's funny how that works but I'd say that overall based on where we ended up as a team, and the way that I contributed to that, that I think I've had a better year than 2016."

As for the man he pipped for the Sandover Medal for 2018, Bolton couldn’t have any more respect for Horsley who also finished runner-up in 2011, and third in 2014 and 2017.

"I've got a lot of respect for Kyal and I have a lot of respect for different leaders and players within the competition. Kyal is someone who leads the best team as the benchmark of the competition," Bolton said.

"He's a very good player, he has a great team around him that he makes play better as well. There's probably five or six blokes who would have been deserving of this award and it's indicative of his season where he finished in the polling, he's had a very good season."