Shai Bolton: Fremantle Dockers recruit excited to bring pace and pressure to club’s fast forward line

New Fremantle recruit Shai Bolton said he wants to bring his own speed to a fast and frenetic Dockers forward line this season.

Bolton was officially unveiled as a Fremantle player on Wednesday after a deadline-day trade from Richmond, where he won two premierships.

The Dockers offloaded picks 10,11 and 18 for Bolton and pick 14 in a blockbuster deal that is expected to help shape their rise back up the ladder.

It is a significant investment for a list nearing its prime.

Now Bolton says speed and leadership are the two elements he wants to bring to a young Dockers forward line led by key-position players Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Luke Jackson, with Sam Switkowski, Michael Frederick and veteran Michael Walters roving at their feet.

“I just think I’ll bring my pressure and a bit of leadership for the boys, obviously I have been in the system now for eight years and I have been over here (Melbourne) for a while,” he said.

“I will probably just bring my leadership and my speed also. I know our forward line at Freo has got a lot of speed as well, which I am excited to see and to see how the forward line goes.”

Bolton said he is most looking forward to playing alongside Frederick in a rapid-quick pairing.

“He is a very unreal player and super fast, but all the boys to be honest, I am just excited to get home and play with all the boys and get to know all the boys,” he said.

The 135-game Tiger, who played in the club’s back-to-back flags in 2019 and 2020, has kicked more goals at Optus Stadium than he has at any other venue other than the MCG.

He has also collected 10 Brownlow Medal votes from matches at the venue, including eight in the past four years.

“What I love about it is you are going to play and all your family is in the stands,” Bolton said.

“I obviously didn’t have that when I was over here in Melbourne I only really had my partner and my boy, so that’s exciting that I am going to have all my family watching.

“I just love playing at Optus, it’s that feeling that you are playing at home and it’s even better now because I’m in the purple and all my family will be there.

“I’m just super excited and I can’t wait.”