WAFL 2025: Claremont coach Ash Prescott says he’s unsure if dual Sandover medallist Jye Bolton will play on

Coach Ash Prescott is unsure if Claremont superstar Jye Bolton will continue next year and is set to hold conversations with the dual Sandover medallist about his future in the coming weeks. It comes as the Tigers reel from a heartbreaking five-point preliminary final defeat to East Perth at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Sunday, with Prescott ruing their skill execution. Bolton is the most decorated WAFL player of the past decade, winning Sandover Medals in 2016 and 2018 as well as four Simpson Medals. However, a premiership still eludes the 33-year-old who has played 192 games since joining the Tigers ahead of the 2016 season. Asked if Bolton would play in 2026, Prescott said: “I am not too sure just at this stage. “We’ll probably just have to let the dust settle and have a bit of a chat and just see where he sees he’s at. “Jye has been unbelievable, and he deserves an opportunity to have a think about his future.” The Tigers will exit the 2025 premiership race disappointed with their inability to capitalise on their dominance at times of the Royals in wet and windy conditions. Claremont had 16 scoring shots to East Perth’s 11 as well as 12 more inside 50s but kicked only five goals. Prescott said their inability to be clean with the ball around the ground ultimately cost them. “I think it’s absolutely the polish. It’s that ability to get from inside to outside and then finish our work,” he said. “It’s skill execution across the board. You can’t fault the effort, but we’ve got to make sure we improve and work tirelessly to improve our execution, whether that’s by hand or by foot and goal kicking too.” One player they sorely missed was spearhead Jaiden Hunter who was sidelined for 21 days after he was concussed in the qualifying final defeat. Hunter had kicked 40 goals from 15 games in his first season and the 196cm forward’s absence in attack for the Tigers was evident. Prescott said Hunter’s absence did hurt them in the defeat but looked at the ability to expose others to a big final. “The exposure that a Rory Luscombe gets as a developing player, is wonderful but at the end of the day a four-game player compared to an experienced player like Jaiden does hurt. “It just spreads the load for everyone having that quality up there, so we did really miss Jaiden. It was unfortunate, but the pleasing thing is looking forward he’ll get to do a pre-season. “He didn’t do a pre-season this year and kicked 40 goals, so while it’s really hard at the moment I think we have taken a step forward, we lick our wounds, and we can all get better together.”