Bolton Crowned 2016 Sandover Medallist

By Dan Scamozzi

Claremont midfielder Jye Bolton continued his outstanding debut season in the WAFL by winning the 2016 Sandover Medal with 49 votes as the competitions fairest and best player at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday night.

“It’s a great honour to win such a prestigious award,” Bolton told the audience.

Bolton, 24, moved to Claremont ahead of the 2016 season, and averaged 29 disposals and kicked 10 goals in his 20 games, which saw him win the WAFL’s most prestigious individual award ahead of Peel Thunder’s Matt de Boer, who finished runner-up with 42 votes, and Perth’s Clint Jones (39).

Bolton polled votes in 12 games, picking up five votes as best afield on six occasions, four votes three times, three votes twice, and one vote once.

Despite trailing Jones by six votes after 15 rounds, Bolton stormed home to poll 29 of a possible 35 votes in Claremont’s final seven matches.

Bolton joins Kane Mitchell (2012), Luke Blackwell (2011), Anthony Jones (2007), Jaxon Crabb (2005), Michael Mitchell and Steve Malaxos (1984), John Parkinson (1967), Gordon Maffina (1949), George Moloney (1936), Sammy Clarke (1933-34) and Keith Hough (1932) as one of 12 Tigers to have won the award.

The Werribee product was also part of WA’s 134-point crushing of Tasmania in this year’s State game, and won the Simpson Medal as WA’s best player after amassing 46 disposals, 12 marks, seven clearances and two goals.

Bolton is the first player since East Fremantle’s Craig Treleven in 1995 to win both the Sandover and Simpson Medal in the same year.

Congratulations Jye.

Other Claremont players to poll votes were captain Jake Murphy (16), Darcy Cameron (15), Jared Hardisty (12)*, Jack Bradshaw (11)*, Tom Ledger (7), Mitch Andrews (6), Ryan Neates (6), Ian Richardson (5), Keifer Yu (5)*, Matt Davies (4), Ryan Lim (4), Beau Maister (4), Justin Speed (3), Jake Waterman (3) and Tom Shanahan (1).

*ineligible