Fremantle have agreed to a deal that will send picks No.10, 11 and 18 to Richmond in exchange for Bolton, pick No.14 and a future third-round selection.
The Dockers initially offered Richmond picks No.10 and 18 for Bolton, but the Tigers wanted picks No.10 and 11.
West Coast put pressure on Fremantle by again inquiring about Bolton, forcing the Dockers into action.
Bolton is set to sign a five-year deal with Fremantle, and his impending arrival means the Dockers will start 2025 as one of the premiership favourites.
The 25-year-old won flags with Richmond in 2019 and 2020 during his 135-game career at the Tigers. Bolton kicked 43 goals and averaged 17.5 disposals and 3.6 clearances during his All-Australian year of 2022.
Shai Bolton turns on the jets 💨— AFL (@AFL) #AFLFreoTigers pic.twitter.com/L8f1p6AKmmJuly 6, 2024
Bolton joins Liam Baker and Jack Graham in departing the Tigers, with Rioli desperate to follow them out the door after requesting a trade to Gold Coast.
Smith is being made to sweat on his AFL trade that has been months in the making, with the final day of the trade period set to be a busy one.
The Western Bulldogs star confirmed last month he wished to join Geelong, following plenty of speculation he wanted to head down the highway.
But the Smith deal has been among several negotiations that have progressed at a snail's pace during the trade period, which ends on Wednesday at 7.30pm AEDT.
Smith, who is about to come out of contract, did not play this season because of a knee reconstruction.
The Cats' No.17 draft pick will definitely feature if a deal is reached, with the Bulldogs so far holding out for more to sweeten the trade.
The Bulldogs will have a busy final day, with Caleb Daniel potentially heading to North Melbourne and fellow 2016 premiership player Jack Macrae wanting a trade to St Kilda.
Bailey Smith headlines the list of players wanting to leave Western Bulldogs. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Rioli and Eagles defender Barrass (Hawthorn) are also sweating on their trade requests.
Sydney did everything but farewell former captain Parker in a media statement earlier this month, but their negotiations with North Melbourne have been hard going.
Similarly, the widespread expectation is that Jake Stringer is leaving Essendon for GWS.
But on Tuesday, Bombers list manager Matt Rosa said "there's still a fair bit to play out" in those negotiations.
After a week where the only news of note was Hawthorn sending the No.14 draft pick to Carlton last Friday, there was finally some significant action on Tuesday with two big trades.
Dan Houston went from Port Adelaide to Collingwood in a deal that also featured Gold Coast's No.13 draft pick and four other players.
Baker got his to leave Richmond and join West Coast, in another trade that had Eagles fans fuming after their club's No.3 draft pick was sent to Carlton.