SINCE Craig Bolton announced his retirement a few weeks ago much has been said and written about him. Talk has mainly centred around his ability to shut down opponents, but less has been said of Bolts’ influence on the playing group off the field.
Craig was a player who played a big part in forming and maintaining the club culture. Often times he was the one who would speak up and say what needed to be said. Whether it be three quarter time, in a team meeting, or on the training track - and whenever he did, everyone would stop to listen.
For many reasons, Craig was a player I looked up to as soon as I came to the club. His ability to turn his career around at the Swans was something I wanted to emulate. Fortunately for me, he was assigned to be my mentor for my first few years at the club.
I played my first game for the Swans in round one of 2006, against my old team Essendon, and before we ran out Craig presented me with my first jumper in front of the players and coaches. It was incredibly exciting for me to be playing my first game at my new club, and Craig’s involvement only made the day even more special.
The lessons I learnt from Craig have been invaluable. On-field he has taught me about preparing as a professional, the mental strength and focus needed to play under pressure, and the tricks he uses to play on key forwards every week.
I have learnt from him about off-field areas too.
Peter Costello may be convinced that footballers and role models are mutually exclusive, but Craig really is a footballer and a role model too. He combined a successful football career with studies at university, whilst quietly going about doing charity work on the side.
One thing I can’t get over is how Craig was able to have the career he did, while also being blind as a bat! In team meetings he would lean forward squinting at the footage on the big screen, and could sometimes not even place who the Swans were, let alone where he was on the field.
Craig made All Australian teams, but unbeknownst to many, he had also been picked in another representative team. A newspaper picked an ‘All Red Head’ team, and Craig was picked at centre half back. Modest as ever, he claims that he was undeserving of his spot in the team, and that other players warranted selection over him.
Despite this, it didn’t stop us laughing at him about this for a long time (and possibly many more years to come).
It can be a hard challenge balancing ‘respect’ and ‘wanting to be liked’ as a footballer, and despite hair colour insecurities and blindness issues, Craig was certainly both highly respected and liked by all at the club.
Ted Richards
@Richards_report
