Shai Bolton, the star of the Richmond Tigers, injured his wrist in an altercation at the nightclub last weekend. (Photo by Quinn Rooney / Getty Images)
Several former AFL stars have spoken out against the “whisper” that has surfaced in the ranks of the AFL after years of discontent latest off-field story for the Richmond Tigers.
Two showed up on Monday evening Tiger Player, Daniel Rioli and Shai Boltonwere involved in a nightclub altercation resulting from “inappropriate behavior” towards Rioli’s friend, Paris Lawrence.
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Bolton suffered a broken wrist that put him on hold for the next two to three weeks, while Rioli was also slapped in the face during the altercation.
While neither the AFL nor Richmond have expressed any intention of sanctioning the pair for their actions as both Tiger President Brendan Gale and coach Damien Hardwick defended their players on Tuesday, some reports indicate growing unease within the league.
Veteran AFL reporter Damien Barrett said other clubs rolled their eyes with the Tigers following the recent scandal-ridden 2020 season in which players Sydney Stack and Callum Coleman-Jones were banned for 10 games each after engaging in a brawl on the Gold Coast, as well as Captain Trent’s wife Cotchin Brooke’s Day Spa quarantine gaff.
Barrett went on to say that while Richmond was caught in yet another off-field scandal that they would have preferred to avoid, there likely were no real consequences.
Former St. Kilda champ Nick Riewoldt, cousin of Richmond striker Jack Riewoldt, said it was “utter rubbish” to suggest that the recent incident would spell a downfall of the incumbent prime minister.
“There are going to be some people out there who want to make a connection between what happened to Bolton and Rioli on Saturday night and … a break in culture, a hunger for humility and all of those things – which is utter rubbish.” said Riewoldt on Fox Sports’ program On The Couch.
The story goes on
Former AFL colleague Garry Lyon agreed, saying it was “ignorant” to believe otherwise despite the club’s 4-4 start into the 2021 season.
“Given what we’ve seen here with Richmond, I think it makes sense to consider that the era may be coming to an end,” he said.
“And it’s just as sensible to know that if you don’t, you will be terribly embarrassed.”
Tigers expect Bolton to sign a new deal
Brendon Gale, Richmond CEO, says Shai Bolton’s involvement in a nightclub fight won’t affect the young star’s bid for a new AFL deal with the Tigers.
The shapely playmaker was added to the club’s long list of injuries on Monday when he had surgery on a broken wrist.
Bolton was injured while stepping into teammate Daniel Rioli during a weekend nightclub altercation and will be out for up to three weeks.
Richmond believe Rioli’s girlfriend was “exposed to inappropriate behavior” before the striker was slapped in the face.
Bolton has grown to be one of the key players in Richmond and is expected to sign a new deal starting next year and beyond.
Richmond players Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton were involved in an altercation at the nightclub over the weekend, the club has confirmed. (Photo by Matt Roberts / AFL Photos / via Getty Images)
“We’re in talks with Shai and (his manager) Ralph (Carr),” Gale told SEN.
“This (incident) will not affect these discussions.
“I’m confident he won’t go anywhere. He loves it here, he thrives here and really belongs here.”
Gale said it was a disappointing situation the couple found themselves in and preferred that the club not have to deal with it.
“At the end of the day, Daniel and Shai responded to what they thought was inappropriate behavior,” added Gale.
“Gee, it would be a lot easier if Shai and Daniel sat on the couch at home every night, but that’s not how you expect to live.
“From time to time they will make mistakes.”
With AAP
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