The hard-nosed midfielder says he still feels quite young when he is out on the field.
“There are still guys a little bit older than me – look at [Brett] Kirky and Micky O’Loughlin,” he said.
“It sits well with them. I’m still pretty young. Don’t refer to me as a veteran for a while yet.”
The grey hairs might be a fair way off but the experience of 11 seasons at the elite level is clearly paying off for Bolton, who is enjoying career-best form.
After 10 rounds, Bolton leads the Swans in overall possessions and contested possessions and trails only co-captain Brett Kirk in the tackle count.
His name has been mentioned in early musings about this year’s All-Australian team but Bolton said individual accolades didn’t feature in his approach to the game.
“I’ve been trying to lay the foundations each pre-season in terms of my performance. I just enjoy playing footy each week and getting out there and competing,” he said.
“I’ve had a good couple of games but I’m just more concerned about the team aspects and trying to win for the team.”
Together with Kirk, Bolton has shouldered much of the load at the stoppages in recent years.
This season, Ryan O’Keefe has stepped in to lend a hand and Bolton said his teammate, better known for his work around the forward line, had relished the change of scenery.
“It’s been good having Ryan in there. He’s really benefited and he’s found a new lease of life on the ball,” he said.
“He’s really enjoyed taking up a real leadership role in that stoppage area and he’s found a lot of the footy himself. He’s in ripping form and hopefully it continues.”
Despite Bolton’s strong individual form, the Swans have struggled to get an even contribution across the board this season.
Much has been made of the team’s mental approach in 2009 but Adam Goodes revealed in the lead-up to the round 11 clash against Hawthorn game that the club was working to live up to its mantle as the toughest team around.
Goodes said the Swans were being “smashed” in the all-important centre clearances and hard-ball gets – areas in which they have traditionally excelled – and Bolton concurred.
“Teams definitely know that they’ve got to tackle well and get in and win the footy against us, but we’ve probably dropped off a bit in that area and they’ve stepped up,” he said.
“That has a compound effect and we just need to really step it up. We’re just really disappointed at the way we’re acquitting ourselves at the contest.
“That’s where it’s won or lost each week – through the midfield and whether you’re winning those small battles.”
The Swans will take their first steps towards regaining their midfield mojo on Sunday against the Hawks at the MCG, where Bolton, Kirk and O’Keefe will be pitted against Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Brad Sewell.
“We had a good win against them [in round two] but it’s going to be a tough game down there,” Bolton said of Sunday’s clash.
“They’ve had their troubles with injuries as well but it’s going to be a good contest.
“They’re always really physical at the footy and we’ve got to contain their key forwards and really limit their supply.”
