Fremantle Dockers star Shai Bolton nominated for AFL Mark of the Year for round 15 effort against Geelong

Fremantle star Shai Bolton has been nominated for the AFL’s Mark of the Year for the huge hanger he pulled down against Geelong in round 15.

On the eve of his side’s blockbuster qualifying final against Hawthorn, Bolton is among three candidates for the prize, alongside Hawthorn’s Nick Watson and Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett.

With the Dockers needing a spark against the Cats, Bolton elevated over Jake Kolodjashnij and his teammate Pat Voss on the half-forward flank to haul in a typically high-flying mark.

Fremantle trailed by 16 points midway through the second quarter of the contest and fell into a deficit as large as 28 points before going on to secure a nine-point victory to extend their early-season winning streak to 13 games.

Bolton has already won the award once before — and it even came against the same side he is nominated against this year. While playing for Richmond in 2021, he claimed the prize for another aerial special he secured over the top of multiple Geelong players.

The 27-year-old is in the midst of a career-best season, having been named in the All Australian side for the second time last week on the back of averaging 22.7 disposals per game while kicking 21 goals in a mostly full-time midfield role.

Of the three nominations for the Mark of the Year, two took place at Optus Stadium, with Watson put forward for the screamer he secured over West Coast’s Liam Baker in driving rain during the final round of the home and away season.

The winner of the award will be announced at the Brownlow Medal count on Monday, September 21.

Dynamic Melbourne superstar Pickett is among the finalists for both Mark of the Year and Goal of the Year, having been nominated for the latter award alongside Western Bulldogs’ Bailey Williams and Brisbane’s Conor McKenna.