WA stars Liam Baker and Shai Bolton joint winners of Fred Swift Medal at Richmond’s fairest and best count

WA products Liam Baker and Shai Bolton have been recognised for outstanding individual seasons, with top-five finishes in Richmond’s best and fairest count.

The Jack Dyer Medal was held at Crown Palladium where Tigers spearhead Tom Lynch won the 2022 honour in a thrilling count.

Lynch won his first Jack Dyer Medal after polling 60 votes to edge out Daniel Rioli on 59, while Dion Prestia was third with 56.

Bolton and Baker were joint winners of the Fred Swift Medal after finishing in equal-fourth place with 53 votes.

Baker hails from small country town of Pingaring and played as a junior at Lake Grace-Pingrup before heading to the WAFL and then onto the AFL.

The 24-year-old premiership player was again used in a variety of roles for the Tigers this season and across 23 games he averaged 19.1 disposals, 6.8 contested possessions, 3.6 marks, 3.0 inside-50s, 2.5 rebound-50s, 5.1 score involvements, 4.6 intercepts, 2.3 tackles and 309.2 metres gained.

He was ranked No.4 at the club for disposals, No.5 for contested possessions, No.5 for inside-50s and No.5 for score involvements.

Bolton, 23, was born in Katanning and had a brilliant season in yellow and black, which resulted in his first All-Australian honour.

He was a star both up forward and through the midfield in 2022 and played in all 23 matches where he kicked 43 goals.

He averaged 17.5 disposals, 9.2 contested possessions, 3.2 marks, 3.6 clearances, 2.4 centre clearances, 4.3 inside-50s, 1.9 goals, 7.5 score involvements, 2.1 tackles and 361.1 metres gained.

Across the competition, Bolton was ranked No.4 for score involvements and among the Richmond players he was ranked No.1 for score involvements, equal No.1 for contested possessions, No.2 for inside-50s, No.2 for centre clearances, No.2 for goals, No.3 for marks inside-50, No.3 for metres gained and No.4 for clearances.