Richmond gun Shai Bolton will miss two-to-three AFL games after he fractured his wrist in a nightclub fight as coach Damien Hardwick defended the midfielder’s call to step in to help teammate Daniel Rioli.
Hardwick confirmed Bolton had undergone surgery on Monday evening after suffering the injury in an altercation at the weekend, which the Tigers said started when Rioli’s girlfriend was “subjected to inappropriate behaviour” from a fellow nightclub patron.
Rioli confronted the patron and was punched in the face, suffering a cut under his eye that required two stitches, with Bolton stepping in.
Hardwick defended both players on Monday night and said he believed many people would have reacted the same way.
“A player’s partner was put in an inappropriate situation that she didn’t feel comfortable with and Daniel stood up and tried to eradicate the situation and was punched in the eye,” Hardwick told Fox Footy.
“I don’t condone violence but the reality is, you put anyone in that situation, they’re going to stand up for their partner and their mates and Shai was the same.
“So, look, it was a difficult situation. It’s not one ideally we want to be in but the reality is we are where we are.”
Hardwick said football bosses Tim Livingstone and Blair Hartley had spoken at length with Bolton and Rioli and the Tigers were “absolutely” confident there was no wrongdoing on their behalf.
“We’ve got to the bottom of it – the evidence we’ve got and the story we have,” he said.
“So from our point of view, we back in the players.”
Hardwick said while the duo were entitled to “live a life”, the incident was a reminder to AFL players they had to be careful and “these situations can occur if they go out”.
Bolton joins Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards, Dion Prestia and Kane Lambert on the sidelines, with Hardwick describing Richmond’s midfield as “obliterated”.
Two-time premiership player Bolton has averaged 21.8 disposals and more than a goal a game this season, including six goals across his past two outings.
“It’s disappointing. He’s is in great form, there’s no doubt about that. He’s one of the form players of the competition,” Hardwick said.
Bolton, who is out of contract at season’s end, also hauled down a mark of the year contender in the Tigers’ loss to Geelong on Friday night.
The reigning premiers sit 4-4, eight games into their bid for a fourth flag in five seasons.
Richmond face a resurgent GWS at Marvel Stadium this week, then travel to Brisbane to take on the Lions before returning to the MCG to host Adelaide.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Ordinary match by Ben's team today. But Joe's team are also falling of the perch. Might be the other "Australian", Irving's team. By the way, the guy is a marvel. Not that tall but he can shoot and layup and assist with the best.
1dog
Roar Rookie
Ben or Joe? Who’s going to go further in the playoffs
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
No. I don't know. It sounds like Rioli was punched first. I don't know. Either do you. That's my point. Passing judgement when you don't know the details is foolish at best.
Macca
Roar Rookie
And you know? An incident escalated from an inappropriate comment to violence – pretty clear the Richmond boys didn’t handle it the way they have been taught.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
And you know?
Macca
Roar Rookie
Tenuous? How so? As for poor, trying to portray these two as heroes standing up to a misogynist is nothing but PR spin. That is poor.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Yeah and Doggies still can’t beat Richmond
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
That really is hilarious.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
:thumbup:
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
:crying: Sorry to hear, going forward you wont support the Tigs as your second team. Given you are stalking me and reckon I post myself, hopefully now you realise I don’t have 5 avatars as I am no seasoned expert. BTW wipe your tears away I didn’t mock you - I was surprised you wrote about the Tigs and not the Cats. But understand - we are very exciting!!
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
No Sven, you cool. With this trolling. I complain or take a rest.
O M
Roar Rookie
:laughing: Some might say you're correct about the therapy thing!
sven
Roar Rookie
now am i going around saying nasty shi*te about u yatz?
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Guess what Obsessed? Talking about avatars! Tuzzi has published 1 article and what is it about - Richmond! In 2019 and guess what, never followed up in 2020 - I think he needs therapy to get cover past finals disappointments :crying:
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I seriously hope Sven is not another of your avatars pest.
O M
Roar Rookie
Thanks tuzzi. That's seriously the nicest thing you've said all night. Appreciate it. :happy:
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Sven, I do speak my mind to my chagrin. At loggers with mate Pete over a Pies forward. Two things. The tigers rebound after diversity. And I hope we do you boys in this years Granny.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Thanks champ - love the Avatar. Yattuzzi will think we are talking to ourselves. BTW fancy a doggies supporter trying to take the piss out of the Tigs. That is just not going to end well :boxing:
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Budget was pretty boring but your talk is worse. I’ll send you some Dusty v Geelong highlights - that’ll get you going!
sven
Roar Rookie
yeah fair points & def not proud, just get a bit annoyed at how some people seem to derive pleasure when they see sh*ite going down with teams other than their own, & i'll admit ive had a chirp myself, usually in response to certain posters on here .... between those boys & willie rioli sad to see these young fellers get into strife