While the Swans couldn’t achieve the fairy tale finish for the 325-gamer, Bolton said he was blown away by the support Fremantle players, coaches and supporters showed him following his final AFL match.
“I really commend the Fremantle guys,” Bolton said after the match.
“I was rapt that they obviously showed a little bit of respect, and they didn’t have to do that and line up.
“Pav (Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich) came over to me and said they want to line up, so I really thank the Fremantle guys for doing that.
“I said (to Pavlich) ‘Mate, you don’t have to do that, you should just be enjoying it’, so they’re a great club and are really well led by those sorts of guys and I really appreciated it.”
Bolton, a dual premiership player who announced his retirement ahead of the Swans’ round 23 clash, said there was a feeling of sadness knowing that the side had come so close to another Grand Final this season.
“I was a bit emotional in the rooms,” the 33-year-old said.
“You’re so close to the big one and you could sort of taste it, and now you have to be one of those envious people and sit back in the stand and watch it.
“To end like that is a bit disappointing, but we move on.”
Bolton leaves the game holding the Swans’ finals record, with 26 career finals, and also holds the AFL record for tackles, with 1490 across his 15 year career.
He also holds the record for the most tackles laid in an individual game, which he achieved in 2011 against the West Coast Eagles (19 tackles), as well as the league record for the most contested possessions in a game (26 contested possessions), which he notched up against Essendon in 2010.
Renowned for putting his head over the ball and giving his all, Bolton said one thing he would miss was the physicality of the game.
“I guess I’m going to miss the competitiveness and the contest,” he said.
“I’m going to have to find another competitive outlet and release somewhere.
“I’ll miss the camaraderie with the boys and just competing week in week out.”
While the Swans fell short this season, Bolton said he would be looking on as the Dockers take on Hawthorn in this year’s decider and has received an invitation to complete a lap of honour ahead of next Saturday’s Grand Final at the MCG.
The outgoing Swan said there was nothing better than Grand Final week, adding he expected next Saturday’s game would be a fierce contest between the Hawks and Dockers.
“You know how special they are and you just want to be a part of the big day,” he said.
“The whole week is a special week and I’m very envious and I always try to get down there even when we’re not in there just to feel that finals footy.
“I guess we sit back and it’s going to be a great Grand Final between two teams who will hopefully go hell for leather at each other next week.”
