Richmond excitement machine Shai Bolton’s electrifying exhibition against West Coast at Optus Stadium last Friday night has earned him the most votes for the match in the 2022 AFL Coaches’ Association’s Champion Player of the Year Round 7 voting.
Bolton received nine votes from respective coaches Damien Hardwick (Richmond) and Adam Simpson (West Coast) for the immense impact he had in the Tigers’ 109-point win, up forward and through the midfield.
The super-talented, dual premiership Tiger finished the match with 30 disposals, seven inside-50s, seven clearances, six centre clearances, eight marks, three goals, four goal assists, an equal game-high 15 score involvements and 719 metres gained.
Only one other player in the competition this season has managed to rack up 30 disposals and kick three goals in a match – Carlton captain Patrick Cripps.
After seven rounds of the 2022 season, Bolton is equal-ninth in the prestigious coaches’ award with 27 votes, 18 behind Cripps, who is leading.
Star Richmond key forward Tom Lynch picked up eight votes for a dominant display in his 200th AFL game.
Lynch had a game-high 13 contested possessions, took a game-high and equal AFL career-high 14 marks, including a game-high and career-high eight contested marks, game-high and career-high nine marks inside 50, equal game-high and career-high 15 score involvements, and he kicked a Richmond career-high seven goals.
The success of Jayden Short’s shift from defence into the midfield was highlighted with him being awarded seven votes.
Short had a game-high 31 disposals, nine inside-50s, five clearances, three centre clearances, three goal assists, seven score involvements, seven marks, four intercepts and a game-high 792 metres gained.
Top-class Tiger defender Nick Vlastuin – 24 disposals, 10 marks, a game-high 14 intercepts, six rebound-50s, four score involvements and 341 metres gained – was given four votes.
Rounding out Richmond’s Round 7 vote-getters were Kamdyn McIntosh and Daniel Rioli, with one vote apiece.
The full voting details for the Round 7 Richmond v West Coast match are:
9 – Shai Bolton (Richmond)
8 – Tom Lynch (Richmond)
7 – Jayden Short (Richmond)
4 – Nick Vlastuin (Richmond)
1 – Kamdyn McInotsh (Richmond)
1 – Daniel Rioli (Richmond)
