Shai Bolton has been given a uncommon public clip by coach Damien Hardwick after a butchered set shot in the end proved disastrous within the dramatic AFL season opener.
Bolton had a shot in entrance of aim late within the fourth quarter and elected to snap round his physique regardless of lining up immediately in entrance.
His behind introduced the Tigers to inside one aim of the lead within the last frantic minutes of Richmond’s rollercoaster draw with Carlton on Thursday evening on the MCG.
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With gamers trying misplaced for phrases when the ultimate siren sounded, Bolton’s miss started to look increasingly painful because the mud started to decide on the thrilling contest.
Bolton produced one other evening of highlights, together with a really actual early contender for mark of the 12 months, however it was the mind fart that was the most important speaking level after the sport.
Hardwick mentioned in his post-match press convention he was pissed off his group “missed sodas” in entrance of aim and wasn’t clear going ahead.
He mentioned of Bolton’s choice to disregard the standard dop punt: “We want the player to take the responsibility with the way that they shoot at goal.
“For a player of my era, drop punt, for sure. But these days, players practice those, but they have to execute. That is the reality of it. You live or die by the sword, don’t you. He practices those a lot. He has to probably get better at it. Probably for mine he rushed it and could have taken more time and got his breaths and more relaxed with his shot.”
He was additionally requested by a journalist: “Would you say you can’t do that any more?”
Hardwick responded: “I wouldn’t say can’t. We would like players to make an informed decision. As a coach we offer guidance but in reality they play the game. Good afternoon Jake. The fact of the matter they have to make decisions.”
Footy commentators had been notably grouchy at seeing Bolton elect to kick round his physique with the match on the road.
Thankfully for Bolton, Tom Lynch stood up when it mattered with a bit o solo magic that drew the Tigers degree at 8.10 (58) to eight.10 (58) with 20 seconds to play.
It is the primary time in 51 years the groups have drawn.
The consequence left the footy world in awe after Richmond discovered one thing additional within the tank to return again from seven factors down within the last dying minutes.
Both groups held ascendancy at totally different occasions within the rollercoaster battle with Richmond taking a five-point lead into the ultimate time period.
The Tigers had come from 14-points down at half time and took the lead with three unanswered targets late within the third time period.
In the tip the competition got here down to at least one candy swing of Lynch’s boot.
“They cannot believe it,” Channel 7’s James Brayshaw mentioned.
Brian Taylor mentioned in commentary: “This is nuts”.
Richmond ahead Jack Riewoldt appeared utterly deflated when chatting with Fox Footy straight after the sport.
“Everyone is a bit flat as shark s*** at the moment,” he mentioned.
“We felt we played the game on our terms… but we probably didn’t make the most of our opportunities tonight.”
Riewoldt now holds the report for many attracts skilled by an AFL participant within the historical past of the sport with eight attracts throughout the 34-year-old’s profession.
Carlton followers will need to have been dreaming of a nail-biting season-opening win when Sam Docherty kicked a bomb from exterior the 50m arc to place them again in entrance early within the fourth quarter.
However, there have been few spectators among the many crowd of 88,084 — the second largest Round 1 crowd ever — who would say the 4 factors didn’t should be shared.
Source: www.news.com.au
