Fremantle Dockers recruit Shai Bolton passes fitness test ahead of Indigenous All Stars pre-season clash

Prize Fremantle recruit Shai Bolton looks to have overcome a calf strain after an impressive audition for Saturday’s Indigenous All-Stars game at Optus Stadium. Bolton gave himself a Wednesday deadline to test the calf and passed with honours, sparkling on the training track and in match simulation at Cockburn. Dockers veteran and All Stars captain Michael Walters, who is easing back into a full workload from minor knee surgery, and Bolton were two of the standouts over two hours of running and skills sharpening. Both players took part in a quarter of match practice at the end of the session, with Bolton in particular looking sharp. “I still have a couple of things to tick off with the club. The calf is feeling good so I think I’ll be right. On Wednesday I will find out. If I can train with the main group hopefully I can get out there,” Bolton told The West Australian at the weekend. On the strength of Wednesday’s session, both Bolton and Walters will be starters for the All Stars for the clash against Fremantle with squads of 30 expected to be named today for the 4 x 25-minute practice match. Ticket sales have already reached 30,000 with two days remaining. Bouncedown is at 4.30pm with the forecast temperature 34C. Two-time Richmond premiership player Bolton signed a five-year contract with Fremantle after moving from the Tigers in the off-season. He told The West Australian he would not risk his body if there is danger of injury but playing for the All-Stars was a lifelong dream. “Obviously I want to be right for round one but it’s also important for me to play. It has been 10 years since they played,” he said. “All of my family will be in the stands and it will be my first time playing for the All-Stars. It would be a privilege to play, especially with all of the brothers that are playing. We’ll have a pretty quick, small forward line.” The All-Stars and Dockers will train at Optus Stadium on Friday. Meanwhile, retired AFL Indigenous playing legends Shaun Burgoyne, Chris Johnson and Eddie Betts, along with AFL journalist Megan Waters will vote for the Polly Farmer Medal, awarded to the player of the match on Saturday. The Polly Farmer Foundation has been named the game’s legacy partner. The foundation supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students via a strengths-based approach, empowering students to complete school and move into successful post-school pathways.