Can out of form Tiger light Richmond’s fuse in 2023?

Is Shai Bolton the player that can turn Richmond’s floundering season around?

Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy believes he’s the player most likely to if the Tigers are to rebound from their 1-1-5 start to the season.

After making the All-Australian team in 2022, Bolton has seen his averages in goals, clearances and goal assists drop in 2023.

While he’s still no doubt a star of the competition, Healy and Kane Cornes discussed where Bolton needed to get to for the Tigers to start competing with the best sides again.

Healy: “The person that can most do something about this (slump), I think is Shai Bolton.”

Cornes: “How is he going?”

Healy: “Well, I don't think he's going that well, is he?

“He doesn't seem to be having the influence that he has had (in previous years).

“He has an All-Australian … he certainly has been a dominant force for the last three or four years as a player.

“He's put together some sensational seasons and, right now would he be in the best three for the Tigers?

“I can't remember him having a huge influence on too many games this season and he's too good a player for that.”

Cornes: “I see flashes of brilliance and then he goes missing for a lot of the (time).

“So he started the season last year - three, two, three, two - that was his goal return (each game in his the first four rounds).

“His possession average was a lot higher than what it is.

“He kicked 43 goals for the year and at one point, I said, ‘This guy is the best player in the game’.

“He’s kicked seven goals (this season) and he's only had more than 20 disposals three times.

“He should be getting mid-20 disposals, two goals a game and three to four tackles per match and still having those moments of brilliance that he's still doing, but not doing consistently.

“Tiger fans, is he the one that needs to light the fuse for you?”

Bolton will hope to have a big performance when the Tigers host the bottom of the ladder Eagles at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.