Battle: Star

[remboy]

Really rate Battle and think he will be an A Grader. Watching yesterday, I thought he got caught out of position in the one on ones . But otherwise was good. Still like him up forward - shades of Hamill with his aggression and he is one of our better kicks for goal.

He's always reminded me of a taller Aaron Hamill. Thought he, Joyce and Wilkie all did pretty well considering their lack of experience.

[GilsAuPair]

Thumbs up for Battle.

King, Battle and Steele.

Foundations of Empire .

[saynta]

Thumbs up for Battle.

King, Battle and Steele.

Foundations of Empire .

Good post. I would add Phillips and Ares in there along with Parker and Long

[The_President]

Phillips has literally done nothing

[Toy Saint]

Bob Murray and Darryl Griffith were both recruited as forwards. Turned into one of our best full backs and half backs of all time.

Barry Lawrence, Luke Penny and Sam Fisher all spring to mind

Fraser Gehrig came as a forward, finished 2nd in our B&F as a FB...(then kicked 100 goals as a FF).

Jake Carlisle has kicked 8 in a game.

The swingman might be more common than we think.

And don't forget Cowboy Neale, he played at both ends. Reckon he would be the retrospective Norm Smith medal winner in our Premiership year.

[rodgerfox]

Thumbs up for Battle.

King, Battle and Steele.

Foundations of Empire .

Good post. I would add Phillips and Ares in there along with Parker and Long

Long maybe.

The others, no.

[GilsAuPair]

We got Battle for pick 39 in 2016. A bargain.
In some ways that cancels out the Paddy pick from 2014. A bust.

We broke even.

[Saintmatt]

I'd love to think that Battle will become our version of E. Wood; Robbo; Scicily or McGovern. That would be amazing for us. I know he's primarily there as a stop gap as we're so light on for defenders but I have this nagging thing in my guts that we was drafted as a forward; learned all his footy as a forward; has had a couple of good games last year as a forward and now, and yet we're firebombing all of that out of need.

To me - him and Membrey are our two most natural forwards and it would have been amazing to have Robbo intercepting down back whilst Josh begins to create havoc up forward.

I just hope we don't turn him into a merely average defender whilst also not getting the best out of him in his natural position.

Time will tell and I hope for success regardless ...

He trained as a defender all pre-season I thought?

I don't think he was thrown back due to injuries.

He did train as a defender over Summer ... but mainly as insurance for Carlilse’s back (which they knew was a concern as far back as early Dec). And so it came to pass

[one point]

Decision to play Battle in defence was made late last year and he trained for the line all pre season. Was a fair bit of risk involved.

If Clarko makes the same desission with someone like Sicily who also played all his footy as a forward then it's a a ground breaking move and applauded for its courage in risk taking.

Well done Alan. .

Battle had played 8 games, and kicked 8 in his entire career. We had McCartin, Bruce and Membrey and just recruited King.

Where exactly is the risk in trying Battle in.defence?

Ok you are right. It was totally risk free for coach and player.

I'm sure you would have been leading the defence of Alan had he spent all pre season investing in the change and Battle had an absolute shocker yesterday.

I'd be staggered if Cho had anything to do with it to be honest.

Yeah it sounds like you're across it.

Identified and implemented by Henry Playfair

[GilsAuPair]

We have Bruce, Membrey, Marshall and King as tall fwds for the next 5 years.

I'd like to see a backline of:

Wilkie Joyce Battle
McKenzie Carlisle Webster

[The Recruit]

Will be considered elite by the end of the year. Or very close to it.
When Carlisle slots back in next year, he'll go to the next level again.


Fantastic game yesterday, in his first real go as a Defender, with no genuine experience around him.

I think he had 7 intercepts, and 16 Effective Disposals.


Jack Steele continues to push toward the elite level, with Billings showing some genuine polish - and now Battle ready to step up, there's some gloss starting to appear.

Agree

[Scollop]

Bob Murray and Darryl Griffith were both recruited as forwards. Turned into one of our best full backs and half backs of all time.

Barry Lawrence, Luke Penny and Sam Fisher all spring to mind

Fraser Gehrig came as a forward, finished 2nd in our B&F as a FB...(then kicked 100 goals as a FF).

Jake Carlisle has kicked 8 in a game.

The swingman might be more common than we think.

And don't forget Cowboy Neale, he played at both ends. Reckon he would be the retrospective Norm Smith medal winner in our Premiership year.

Justin Leppitsch also played all his junior footy at FF iirc, and Leigh Matthews turned him into a gun backman. He was part of their spine during their three premierships and was 3 x AA

[Cairnsman]

Decision to play Battle in defence was made late last year and he trained for the line all pre season. Was a fair bit of risk involved.

If Clarko makes the same desission with someone like Sicily who also played all his footy as a forward then it's a a ground breaking move and applauded for its courage in risk taking.

Well done Alan. .

Battle had played 8 games, and kicked 8 in his entire career. We had McCartin, Bruce and Membrey and just recruited King.

Where exactly is the risk in trying Battle in.defence?

Ok you are right. It was totally risk free for coach and player.

I'm sure you would have been leading the defence of Alan had he spent all pre season investing in the change and Battle had an absolute shocker yesterday.

I'd be staggered if Cho had anything to do with it to be honest.

Yeah it sounds like you're across it.

Identified and implemented by Henry Playfair

Incorrect and I think you will find Jake Batchelor was part of the team for identification and implementation that was rubber stamped by the boss.

[DJ Higgins]

Battle was ok on Sunday. Those that want to argue and say he was great go ahead but he really was only ok. The scoreboard also reflects this. Worse attack in the league and they kicked over 80 on us.

Battle is a great athlete and could make a fist out if a lot of positions if he had to. But I will still say he would be a better forward. It's like saying roo would have been an amazing defender due to missing ability to read the ball in the air and the best hands I have ever seen. He would have but he was a better forward. Battle was recruited Partly due to his accuracy at goal. Kid can kick straight. Seems a bit if a waste of I have that skill up the back when we had other options IE Bruce who used to defend.

Either way I cheer loudly for him when he takes a mark or spoils a goal. Bombers will be a better test but are they full strength up forward?

[rodgerfox]

Battle was ok on Sunday. Those that want to argue and say he was great go ahead but he really was only ok. The scoreboard also reflects this. Worse attack in the league and they kicked over 80 on us.

Battle is a great athlete and could make a fist out if a lot of positions if he had to. But I will still say he would be a better forward. It's like saying roo would have been an amazing defender due to missing ability to read the ball in the air and the best hands I have ever seen. He would have but he was a better forward. Battle was recruited Partly due to his accuracy at goal. Kid can kick straight. Seems a bit if a waste of I have that skill up the back when we had other options IE Bruce who used to defend.

Either way I cheer loudly for him when he takes a mark or spoils a goal. Bombers will be a better test but are they full strength up forward?

It was his first game as a Defender to be fair.

[prwilkinson]

Already wins most contests he’s involved in. Going to be a gun.

[DJ Higgins]

Completely agree with you that it was his first game and had no one of experience in that role to guide him etc.

Just can't help but think if things were a little different IE kdp were fit and healthy or others had come along better IE Goddard and we didn't have to fill a hole we would be writing about how battle was killing it up forward

If buts and maybes I know. Either way he is learning new skills now and has a new role for the time being

[PADDLEPOP1001]

He’s a big unit to,has put on some size & has attitude!

[bigcarl]

Bottom line for Battle. We need a key defender more than we need a key forward, particularly with Marshall/King waiting in the wings.

There’s a slot for him in defence that he thinks he can fill. I reckon he’d be happy to be guaranteed a game tbh

[remboy]

We got Battle for pick 39 in 2016. A bargain.
In some ways that cancels out the Paddy pick from 2014. A bust.

We broke even.

We got Battle and Long with two of the picks we got from Hawthorn for pick 10.

[The_President]

Just hope the clubs looks to the future a little bit with the next few trade/draft periods.

In terms of our tall forwards for the next few years we have
Bruce
Membrey
King
Paddy

Really doesn’t leave much room for Battle. Even if Paddy doesn’t play again, three is plenty.

In terms of rucks
Longer
Pierce
Marshall

So far it seems that only Marshall can have an influence up forward. But you would assume that once King gets healthy and puts on size that he is likely to be the second ruck option.

Just feel that we really need to forget about Longer and just see who out of Lewie and Marshall will develop into the best long term ruck. Then focus out energy into getting some pace through the middle and some defenders.

Although Battle looks like he might turn out nicely. There’s still only been a tiny sample size, same for Wilkie and Joyce. Brown is old and Carlisle obviously out for most of this year. Hopefully he can come back next year and be fine, but we really do need to look for that insurance policy.


Hello Ben King or even Weitering if Carlton we’re mad enough to let him go.

[Joffa Burns]

We have Bruce, Membrey, Marshall and King as tall fwds for the next 5 years.

I'd like to see a backline of:

Wilkie Joyce Battle
McKenzie Carlisle Webster

Who in that group takes on the small forwards of the comp?

[fugazi]

We have Bruce, Membrey, Marshall and King as tall fwds for the next 5 years.

I'd like to see a backline of:

Wilkie Joyce Battle
McKenzie Carlisle Webster

Who in that group takes on the small forwards of the comp?

McKenzie and Webster

[mightysainters]

This kid has a lot of Maguire / Adam Hunter about him.. very exciting

[saynta]

Phillips has literally done nothing

He will. Give him time.