Mitchell Woodcock: Chad Warner means Fremantle won’t be afraid to call Richmond’s bluff on Shai Bolton trade

Fremantle list boss David Walls’ threat to walk away from the Shai Bolton trade if Richmond’s price becomes too “expensive” is not an idle one. The strength of this year’s draft and the demand for first-round picks from other clubs gives the Dockers plenty of options should they want to look elsewhere. And while bringing Bolton will help Fremantle’s premiership pursuits in 2025, a raft of future picks in next year’s first-round could help them land the biggest fish of all — Chad Warner. It’s why the Tigers will likely end up settling for the Dockers’ offer of picks No.10 and No.18 in exchange for Bolton, rather than picks No.10 and No.11 that they are pursuing right now. First-round picks this year are like gold and there are a lot of list managers who are willing to give up plenty of picks to get their hands on as many selections they can in this year’s draft. The industry outrage around St Kilda getting pick No.8 as free agency compensation for losing Josh Battle to Hawthorn is partly because of the talent the Saints are likely to get as a result. In some other years when the draft isn’t as strong, the feeling of anger might not be as strong. Fremantle could conceivably turn two of their first-round picks this year into three or four for next year, giving them the ammunition to chase Warner. The Sydney star is out of contract next season and if the reports are to be believed both Fremantle and West Coast are under the impression he is gettable because of his desite to return to Western Australia. Fremantle could be patient, realise that a player like Warner would take them from a premiership fancy to a flag force given he is unlike any midfielder on their list. Goalkicking midfielders are like gold to AFL coaches and there are few better in the competition right now than Warner. This is ultimately why the Tigers aren’t in as good a position as they think they are when they’re at the negotiating table haggling over Bolton. It’s undoubtable that the Dockers could use the 2022 All-Australian forward to add to the firepower up forward, but not getting him this year would not be the biggest blow in the world. In all likelihood, if he has to stay at Richmond in 2025 we’ll be right back at the same point in 12 months time with Bolton wanting to return to WA for family reasons. Except this time instead of having four years left on a contract, he’ll only have three. And instead of the Dockers’ entire focus being on Bolton, they’ll have both eyes on Warner. Which means Richmond might walk away with a lot less than two first-round draft picks.