Fremantle Dockers recruit Shai Bolton dedicates victory over Hawthorn to retired legend Michael Walters
Fremantle's finals fortunes were precariously balanced at the last break, the home side trailing by 13 points and sitting outside the eight with a road trip to face league leaders Collingwood on the horizon.
But with a raucous 49,460 fans behind them, an inspired Dockers charged to an emotional 13-point victory off the back of a four-goal-to-nothing fourth term.
And Bolton said it 'was all for Sonny'.
'We wanted to get that win for him. He's a legend of Fremantle and we'll miss him,' he told The West Australian.
'I'm glad we got that win for him.
'Everyone played their role tonight, and it was all for Sonny, so it was good.'
Bolton and Michael Frederick carried Walters off the field as he was given a guard of honour at the end of the game.
During his farewell speech to the playing group last week, Walters even charged Bolton with looking after the club's talented young Indigenous stars.
The 26-year-old took the role in both hands on Saturday night, leading by example with two goals from 19 touches to go with four clearances.
Bolton was full of praise for his Dockers teammates, revealing the playing group remained as connected as ever in the face of a wave of criticism this week after their disappointing road defeat to Sydney.
'I just feel like when we play our best football, everyone's together, connected and playing their role,' he said.
'We know JL, he's the coach for us. We believe in the game plan.
'We lose one game and everyone is at us. We won six in a row before that, so we just have to keep taking it one game at a time and just play our role.
'We feel like our football when we play at our best, we can beat most teams.'
After two meagre weeks under a tag, Fremantle's midfield ball magnet Caleb Serong, who had sought advice from two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe on how to break a run with a player, relished being unshackled by the Hawks, collecting 29 disposals and nine clearances.
And Bolton said his performance was crucial in Fremantle earning their top-eight spot back.
'Obviously, he gets tagged for a reason because he's an unreal player and one of the best in the competition,' he said.
'We probably didn't help him as much last week, but we're glad that he got around it today. By him playing his role and playing how he did tonight, that's why we won as well.
'I've got Sebba and Andy telling me when I go in the midfield. I'm obviously still new to the game plan, and wherever I need to go, they're always talking.
'Honestly, we have good leaders, so it's always good when they're helping me out.'
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