After 321 games, three grand finals, two premierships, and with his 34th birthday approaching, it shouldn’t stun too many Jude Bolton has decided to retire.
The real surprise, considering the way he has played each and every one of those 321 matches, is that he made it this far.
Almost as often as they applauded, Swans fans would shake their heads in disbelief with the courage Bolton would display on the park.
Winning the ball, helping a teammate or stopping an opponent was always far more important than self preservation.
There may have been others more skilful, others more flashy, others who are superstars of the game, but for toughness, courage, and his tackling prowess, Bolton has no peer in the game.
Somewhere between his debut against Carlton at Princes Park back in 1999, and his 321st match, against St Kilda two weekends back, every Swans’ fan would have a favourite Bolton memory.
Maybe it was his 41 possession, nine mark, two goal game against the Bulldogs last year? Possibly his game against regular rivals West Coast in 2011 where he finished with an incredible 19 tackles?
Or maybe his game against Essendon in 2010, where he collected 36 touches, made 12 tackles, had 11 clearances, and an impressive 28 contested possessions.
Coincidentally all three performances were achieved after he had turned 30.
Among the 321, there are so many options, but personally, the Jude Bolton I saw on grand final day 2005, is not only the one which will forever stand out for me, but that Jude is the one who personified exactly what has made the Swans the tough, unforgiving team they have been over the past decade.
It was on that afternoon that Bolton wore an accidental knee to the head. His blond hair was suddenly stained with blood.
Swans’ doctor Nathan Gibbs told me Bolton ran from the field and demanded: “Patch me up and get me back out there.”
Gibbs said it was lucky the cut was on the top of Bolton’s head and Jude was unable to see how significant it was. “You could nearly put your hand in it. It was gigantic,” Gibbs said. “He had no concern about racing back out there. He waited just long enough to get him stitched, get the headgear on, and he was back out there.”
The headgear-wearing Bolton returned and took up just where he left off, on the bottom of packs, getting the hard ball, throwing his body at opponents, and doing everything he could for his teammates – standard Jude Bolton stuff.
The headgear was ironically worn the week before by his midfield partner and one of the few who could be favourably compared on the scales of toughness and courage with Bolton, Brett Kirk.
Said Kirk of Bolton’s 2005 grand final incident: “That epitomised Jude that day, he wanted to get back on as soon as he could because he wouldn’t want to let anyone down.”
The headgear did however mean that most photos of Bolton in the 2005 decider either had him with his head covered in a helmet, or post-game wearing a mummy-like bandage.
Some of his teammates jokingly suggested that was his true motivation behind winning again in 2012 so he could get some good premiership photos.
What Gibbs also mentioned at the time was that Bolton had also played the last seven games of 2005 (including four finals) with a separated AC joint in his shoulder, an injury kept a closely guarded secret by the club, and one which somehow still didn’t stop him being a major contributor throughout the finals.
While he is known and will be remembered for his toughness and courage, he also possessed his share of skill, he will finish with around 200 goals, and Bolton has been a tremendous leader and teacher of the next generation at the club.
And he even gave all he could to the media. Jude knew the Swans’ ethos of not telling the media absolutely everything, but each time he fronted up, he tried his best to give us all something to appease the editor.
It was a day of football retirements announcements yesterday.
In the NRL, there was a Prince (Scott) and soon after a King (Matt) bidding farewell.
At the Swans, they too will lose a bit of red and white royalty when Jude Bolton – 300 gamer, dual premierships player, champion footballer and all round good bloke – makes his exit.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Jack Higgins' three-match suspension for a dangerous tackle on Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir has been upheld after a marathon three and a half-hour…
The former Collingwood president says the Kangaroos need to 'stand for something' not just on the field but in the community or risk being…
The All-Australian player has been below his best this year, and Matthew Lloyd has suggested that he be moved more into the midfield to…
The AFL need a more simple approach to high contact and one that makes players accountable, regardless of intent.
He and Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell do not like having a player to sub on and would rather have an extra player available on…
The Footy Classified commentator says people should give Jason Horne-Francis credit for what the young star does for Port Adelaide in key moments -…
