Fremantle mid-forward Shai Bolton maintained his explosive start to the season by winning the Arthur Leggett Medal as best-afield in last night’s 14-point victory in the Len Hall Tribute Game at Optus Stadium.
Bolton had his third 30-plus possession games to go with another above 20 in the first seven rounds.
He kicked two goals from 33 possessions against the Blues, and had 15 of them in the final term, igniting the Dockers’ hot last quarter start.
Bolton also had nine inside 50s to finish with 11 vote.
“It’s an honour to play in this game,” he said.
“It’s always special when the fans come out.”
There were 54,100 fans in attendance, a record for a Len Hall Tribute Game and the second-highest non-derby home and away crowd.
“I feel like I play my best when I am around the footy. I like playing forward as well. I like kicking a couple of goals. It’s probably just a little bit more mid than forward.”
A dual premiership player at Richmond, Bolton is relishing more midfield minutes after filling the void created by Hayden Young’s injury earlier in the season.
He told The West Australian earlier this season one of the most significant differences in 2026 has been the change to Fremantle’s game plan and the increased speed of AFL.
“I feel like I play my best when I am around the footy. I like playing forward as well. I like kicking a couple of goals. It’s probably just a little bit more mid than forward,” he said.
“It takes time with a lot of people when you come to a new club and the system is a bit different.
“This year, we are playing a bit faster, which is good. In general, I think the AFL is playing a bit fast. It’s the same as Richmond. We played pretty chaotic footy and pretty fast. It takes time.”
Arthur Leggett was WA’s last surviving WWII prisoner of war, who died in 2025 at the age of 106.
He fought in Libya, Greece and Crete as a member of the 2/11th Battalion, 6th Division.
He was captured during the Battle of Crete at just 22 years old, held captive for four years and survived the infamous 900km Lamsdorf Death March.
He later served 29 years as president of the Ex-Prisoners of War Association WA.
FULL ARTHUR LEGGETT MEDAL VOTING
Will Schofield (Fox Sports)
3: Luke Jackson (FRE)
2: Shai Bolton (FRE)
1: Andrew Brayshaw (FRE)
Paul Hasleby (Triple M)
3: Shai Bolton (FRE)
2: Luke Jackson (FRE)
1: Sam Walsh (CAR)
Eliza Reilly (CODE)
3: Shai Bolton (FRE)
2: Luke Jackson (FRE)
1: Sam Walsh (CAR)
Sharrod Wellingham (ABC)
3: Shai Bolton (FRE)
2: Luke Jackson (FRE)
1: Sam Walsh (CAR)
TOTAL
11: Shai Bolton
9: Luke Jackson
3: Sam Walsh
1: Andrew Brayshaw
https://thewest.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/arthur-leggett-medal-shai-bolton-provides-the-spark-to-ignite-fremanlte-dockers-charge–c-22192995
