Bolton re-signs before 250th AFL game
Sydney hard nut Jude Bolton has declared his desire to reach the 300-game AFL landmark after signing for another season with the Swans.
Bolton, 30, played his first game back in 1999 and will contest his 250th match against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
And he is quite happy to keep signing on a season-by-season basis at this stage of his career.
"At my age, they don't offer too many long-term contracts," Bolton said at Swans training on Wednesday.
While most players who bring up 250 games are usually cautious about reaching the rare 300 match milestone, Bolton believes he has enough petrol in the tank to get there.
"I believe I can, I just feel like my body is in good nick and hopefully the club wants to keep me a bit longer," Bolton said.
The only Swan to get to 300 games is forward Michael O'Loughlin, who retired at the end of last season, though dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes sailed past 250 last year.
Together with Brett Kirk, Bolton has provided Sydney with the in and under grunt that has helped make them one of the stoppage kings of the AFL.
Bolton said it would be weird not to play next season with Kirk, who has already announced he will retire at the end of this year.
"You just love going into battle and into the trenches with my old mate there and we set up a lot of different stoppages along the way, we've played in a fair few," Bolton said.
He nominated former Hawthorn midfielder Josh Kennedy, who's in the middle of an impressive first season with the Swans, as someone who had the "bash and crash" style to follow in his and Kirk's ferocious footsteps.
Renowned for his bravery, Bolton has taken his fair share of head and body knocks both from opponents and as a result of friendly fire.
"I remember Brad Ottens kneeing me in the temple one day, that wasn't too nice," Bolton joked.
"I remember clashing heads at training a few times, I don't know. It's just part and parcel of the game."
While the speed of the game continues to increase, Bolton hoped the physicality would remain.
"I never want to see the physicality taken out of the game, I think the greatest part of the game is the one-on-one duels," Bolton said.
While there was talk he would be traded at the end of 2007, Bolton lifted his form over the ensuing seasons and was looking forward to being part of a new generation of Swans.
"I know I had a couple of flat years and I suppose I still had some value on the market, I was 27 then, I was under no illusions that I might be on the (trade) table.
"There's a good group of guys. I want to be part of helping to mentor these young guys and bringing them through but also hopefully we're heading towards playing in a premiership."
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.