Jude Bolton
Encyclopedia
Jude Bolton is an Australian rules football
player with the Sydney Swans
of the AFL
. Bolton currently holds the record for most tackles in a VFL/AFL career.
Jude attended St Bernard's College Essendon and played football for the school as well as the Calder Cannons
Under 18s team, before being selected as the 8th pick in the 1998 National Draft. He played his first senior game for Sydney against Carlton
in round 12 of the 1999 season and received a Rising Star Award nomination the following year. By 2001, he was a regular member of the team.
He is noted for his never ending determination to attack and go after the ball; Bolton often accumulates large numbers of tackles. In 2005, the season in which the Swans won their first premiership in 72 years using a tough man-on-man style of play, Bolton made 122 tackles, the 2nd highest for the club and 3rd overall in the AFL.
After a couple of years of arguably sub-par form and being floated as trade bait, Bolton stepped back up in 2009 and 2010 to play his best football. His contested ball winning, tackling and hardness at the contest were all areas in which he led the way for the Swans. None of his performances were more impressive than his game against Essendon at the SCG in 2010, in which he picked up 36 disposals, 26 of which were contested, laid 12 tackles, won 5 free kicks, won 12 clearances and sent the ball inside forward 5 times. He also provided the handball to Adam Goodes for the match sealing goal.
Bolton started 2011 in outstanding fashion, showing that he was not yet ready to consider retiring. While his 2nd half of the year was slowed due to a knee injury, Bolton still managed to contribute most weeks to the side's performance and as such was rewarded with a further one year extension, ending after the 2012 season.
He represented Australia in the International Rules series in 2004.
On Saturday, 9 April 2011, Bolton laid an AFL-record 19 tackles in a match, playing an integral role in victory over the West Coast Eagles. In the Second Semi-Final
, he set the new record for the most tackles lain in a VFL/AFL career, surpassing former captain Brett Kirk
's tally of 1278 career tackles.
He is unrelated to former Swans teammate Craig Bolton
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player with the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
of the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. Bolton currently holds the record for most tackles in a VFL/AFL career.
Jude attended St Bernard's College Essendon and played football for the school as well as the Calder Cannons
Calder Cannons
The Calder Cannons are an Australian rules football club from Melbourne, Australia.The club competes in the TAC Cup and fields squads in the U15, 16 and most importantly the U18s. The club was formed in 1995 after the need for two more metropolitan clubs...
Under 18s team, before being selected as the 8th pick in the 1998 National Draft. He played his first senior game for Sydney against Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in round 12 of the 1999 season and received a Rising Star Award nomination the following year. By 2001, he was a regular member of the team.
He is noted for his never ending determination to attack and go after the ball; Bolton often accumulates large numbers of tackles. In 2005, the season in which the Swans won their first premiership in 72 years using a tough man-on-man style of play, Bolton made 122 tackles, the 2nd highest for the club and 3rd overall in the AFL.
After a couple of years of arguably sub-par form and being floated as trade bait, Bolton stepped back up in 2009 and 2010 to play his best football. His contested ball winning, tackling and hardness at the contest were all areas in which he led the way for the Swans. None of his performances were more impressive than his game against Essendon at the SCG in 2010, in which he picked up 36 disposals, 26 of which were contested, laid 12 tackles, won 5 free kicks, won 12 clearances and sent the ball inside forward 5 times. He also provided the handball to Adam Goodes for the match sealing goal.
Bolton started 2011 in outstanding fashion, showing that he was not yet ready to consider retiring. While his 2nd half of the year was slowed due to a knee injury, Bolton still managed to contribute most weeks to the side's performance and as such was rewarded with a further one year extension, ending after the 2012 season.
He represented Australia in the International Rules series in 2004.
On Saturday, 9 April 2011, Bolton laid an AFL-record 19 tackles in a match, playing an integral role in victory over the West Coast Eagles. In the Second Semi-Final
2011 AFL finals series
The 2011 Australian Football League finals series will determine the winner of the 2011 AFL season. The series is scheduled to occur over four weekends in September 2011, culminating with the 115th AFL/VFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 1 October 2011...
, he set the new record for the most tackles lain in a VFL/AFL career, surpassing former captain Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk is a former Australian rules football player of the Sydney Swans, and is known colloquially as "Kirky", "Captain Kirk", during the 2005 AFL Finals Series, "Captain Blood" and by teammates as "Hippy". Kirk is a hard working and onfield leader who has played in a premiership with the...
's tally of 1278 career tackles.
He is unrelated to former Swans teammate Craig Bolton
Craig Bolton
Craig Bolton is an Australian rules footballer who has played with the Brisbane Lions and the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League . He often plays at full back or on the half back flank...
.