Goodbye Craig Bolton and thanks for the memories

[Matt79]

Very very sad news! Bolts, a great clubman and a gentleman off the field. You will be missed!

[giant]

I'll just think of him as our Bradman from now on....

Well, maybe they can rename that Bradman Stand at Manuka then...

Bloody tragic given the effort he's put in to get back. Never thought for a minute we'd see him again till I saw pounding out the laps pre-season, then I dared to dream.

Still, his attitude in despair is as strong and positive as ever - good luck to the fella, he's been an absolute ripper.

[Vonsteinman]

It seems an appropriate time to tell this story.

We took a group of Indigenous kids to Sydney at the end of last year and the highlight for the most was a trip to watch the Swans training, along with meeting Goodesy, Sumner and Jets.

Following training, we were taken on a tour through the Swans facility and, at one point, we were sitting in the post-game address room listening to a few yarns about the team.

Through the open doorway, I saw Craig walk past with another player who was unsighted. As he passed the doorway, Bolton glanced in and he sort of hesitated before walking on.

Then, about 10 seconds later, he came striding back and in through the door with a big grin and said "G'day guys, where are you all from?"

He probably only stayed two or three minutes and told one or two stories, but it was the act of taking it upon himself to come back and meet a group of kids from remote NT that will stay with me for a long time. A true role model.

[dimelb]

It seems an appropriate time to tell this story.

We took a group of Indigenous kids to Sydney at the end of last year and the highlight for the most was a trip to watch the Swans training, along with meeting Goodesy, Sumner and Jets.
Following training, we were taken on a tour through the Swans facility and, at one point, we were sitting in the post-game address room listening to a few yarns about the team.
Through the open doorway, I saw Craig walk past with another player who was unsighted. As he passed the doorway, Bolton glanced in and he sort of hesitated before walking on.
Then, about 10 seconds later, he came striding back and in through the door with a big grin and said "G'day guys, where are you all from?"
He probably only stayed two or three minutes and told one or two stories, but it was the act of taking it upon himself to come back and meet a group of kids from remote NT that will stay with me for a long time. A true role model.

Nice story. And a genuine class act. We'll miss him.

[Swansinger]

Craig Bolton - from the bottom of my heart - THANK YOU. And good luck .

[stellation]

I remember years ago being at the Swans junior fan day clinic at the SCG, a little boy at a drill on the far side of the ground burst into tears and just wanted to find his mother. Craig Bolton spoke to him, then took the little boy by the hand and walked across the SCG with him to where the parents were sitting. It was a lovely image of a rather upset little boy walking hand in hand with a big footy player, Craig talking all the while and pointing things around the ground out to him. I was at a drill on the far side and saw it all unfolding, Goody Stella was over with the parents and she said that Craig stood and chatted to the mother and boy at length before running back over to the drill.

Another fond memory of Craig with fans is him remonstrating with teenage boys that weren't being sufficiently polite, declaring that he would not sign an autograph for anyone he didn't hear a "thank you" out of after they'd got an autograph from the player in front of him as they walked around the boundary at a fan day.

[Primmy]

That's my kind of guy Stella. And I was there the day the kids from way up north were at the SCG Von; and we all moaned with envy when they clattered down the stairs to the inner sanctom.

[ScottH]

Ted mentioned last night that when Sumner and Everitt were presented with their jumpers before the game. it was Criag that presented Ted with his first jumper before his first game. I think Craig will leave a huge emotional whole as well as a damned huge hole in our back line.

[Go Swannies]

It must have been about 2005 or 06 or 07. We had played Manuka badly against the Roos - and lost. I went to the nearby club for the aftermatch and that was depressing, too. We were told that the rest of the team had headed straight back to Sydney but B2 was staying down to visit his folks and he'd come to talk to us. I waited a while but finally gave up as the general mood was so foul.

I was heading down the stairs as Craig was heading up. I said "I should turn around to watch this" and he grimaced and asked if there were many people up there. I said there were still quite a few. He put his arm around my shoulder and said "If I have to face them, you're coming with me." (I know how John Brown and Roo feel.) So we both walked in; he was immediately asked a lot of bad tempered questions by disappointed fans and he answered every one of them with humour, honesty and insight. He stayed long after he could have called it quits but he really seemed to want to provide information and an encouraging view of what was to come.

It was brave show of pure class and we all left feeling a lot better about a team that'd have him in it. He will definitely be missed - but I hope a club role is found for him.