What to do with Battle...
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- skeptic
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What to do with Battle...
If there was any doubt as to whether he was top 22, and there has been little here for a while but I think the coaches weren’t sure at the start of the season, that’s well and truly gone.
The question for me... what’s he’s best position?
So far we’ve seen him as a forward, a defender and in the role of good old fashioned running utility.
Personally... I like him lining up as a defender that runs off his man and punishes on the rebound if they don’t keep up with him. Obviously the challenge there is Carlisle but he looked great today... though Carlisle too has looked pretty good as of late.
What are other people’s thoughts on how best to use Battle... and more importantly, how good do we think he can get?
The question for me... what’s he’s best position?
So far we’ve seen him as a forward, a defender and in the role of good old fashioned running utility.
Personally... I like him lining up as a defender that runs off his man and punishes on the rebound if they don’t keep up with him. Obviously the challenge there is Carlisle but he looked great today... though Carlisle too has looked pretty good as of late.
What are other people’s thoughts on how best to use Battle... and more importantly, how good do we think he can get?
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Reckon he'll end up being our Blicavs type, someone that plays a different role most weeks, just plug and play where we need him most.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Think he’s a better forward that can play as a wingman/ 7th defender.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Like Jason Blake (he called himself Selleys cos he plugged gaps)The_President wrote: ↑Sun 16 Aug 2020 8:29pm Reckon he'll end up being our Blicavs type, someone that plays a different role most weeks, just plug and play where we need him most.
Battle gets bagged cos he 'runs on tram tracks' but i disagree with that, he moves real well and can mark well, good all-round competitor for me
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Play him anywhere, including pinch-hitting in ruck. I’d say it depends on our needs. Perfect swingman really.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Classic swingman. Clearly comfortable at both ends of the ground, which gives us huge flexibility. He even lined up on the wing a few times today.
Reads the play well, runs all day, strong mark.
Agree he is absolutely cemented in our best 22.
It is important we keep playing the 2 rucks, and not ask Josh to ruck. That is asking too much of him.
Reads the play well, runs all day, strong mark.
Agree he is absolutely cemented in our best 22.
It is important we keep playing the 2 rucks, and not ask Josh to ruck. That is asking too much of him.
Re: What to do with Battle...
Whilst Battle is a great gap man is that the best for his development. I think he is a natural half forward flanker. Need to be careful that we stop the development of a potentially top player. I have seen this with Billings, Long to some extent Hunter Clark. Battle is a natural forward.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Agree. An absolute genuine A grade swingamn in the making. Extremely verstile and highly desirable by all coaches in any sport.George27 wrote: ↑Sun 16 Aug 2020 8:41pm Classic swingman. Clearly comfortable at both ends of the ground, which gives us huge flexibility. He even lined up on the wing a few times today.
Reads the play well, runs all day, strong mark.
Agree he is absolutely cemented in our best 22.
It is important we keep playing the 2 rucks, and not ask Josh to ruck. That is asking too much of him.
- Ghost Like
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Re: What to do with Battle...
I agree with most but TBH, f@ck Blicaves. Tonight they played him perfectly, from the wing. If his opponent leads him forward he'll intercept. If Battle goes forward not many wingers will out mark him. Let him make wing his position, let other clubs worry about coverage.The_President wrote: ↑Sun 16 Aug 2020 8:29pm Reckon he'll end up being our Blicavs type, someone that plays a different role most weeks, just plug and play where we need him most.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Reckon Battle is one of our most important players. Could not believe he wasn't selected earlier in the season.
Good forwards are harder to find than defenders, so I'd use Battle in the Aaron Hamil role on the half forward line. He's a good endurance runner so he can even play up the ground like Riewoldt.
Good forwards are harder to find than defenders, so I'd use Battle in the Aaron Hamil role on the half forward line. He's a good endurance runner so he can even play up the ground like Riewoldt.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
The way we're using him now seems to suit him pretty well. He's frequently starting on a wing, which allows him to drop back and help out in defence or push forward to create mismatches. He does both those things very well. For all that got made of his agility testing back when he was drafted, he's been fine when he's been part of the midfield play. He's contributed at ground level as well as in the air, if not to the same level. He's really starting to use his running capacity as a weapon and it has been very enjoyable to watch.
Yeah nah pleasing positive
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Re: What to do with Battle...
After Roma, I think Josh is the next top flight "prospect" in the Saints team that will blast on to the AFL elite list. He can do it all!
Bruce will just drool in a couple of seasons!!!!
Bruce will just drool in a couple of seasons!!!!
- Joffa Burns
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Re: What to do with Battle...
He's developing into a really good player and uses his strengths really well.vacuous space wrote: ↑Sun 16 Aug 2020 9:54pm The way we're using him now seems to suit him pretty well. He's frequently starting on a wing, which allows him to drop back and help out in defence or push forward to create mismatches. He does both those things very well. For all that got made of his agility testing back when he was drafted, he's been fine when he's been part of the midfield play. He's contributed at ground level as well as in the air, if not to the same level. He's really starting to use his running capacity as a weapon and it has been very enjoyable to watch.
He's terrible below his knees and is not at all agile, but uses his aerobic gifts to get back in defence and to push forward as you rightfully point out.
Nice hands, good kick, courageous and plays with a lot of heart and passion.
I saw a bit of him as a junior and didn't think he'd transition into AFL but is really looking comfortable at the moment.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Remember when England won the Ashes and Australia wanted a player like Flintoff?
Remember when Collingwood won the flag and everyone wanted a Leigh Brown type?
Remember when the Saints stole the 2020 premiership because of Battle’s role? We need one of them.
Remember when Collingwood won the flag and everyone wanted a Leigh Brown type?
Remember when the Saints stole the 2020 premiership because of Battle’s role? We need one of them.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Battle is a true footballer mate, and not a pure althlete although he has skills in that area also.Joffa Burns wrote: ↑Sun 16 Aug 2020 10:22pmHe's developing into a really good player and uses his strengths really well.vacuous space wrote: ↑Sun 16 Aug 2020 9:54pm The way we're using him now seems to suit him pretty well. He's frequently starting on a wing, which allows him to drop back and help out in defence or push forward to create mismatches. He does both those things very well. For all that got made of his agility testing back when he was drafted, he's been fine when he's been part of the midfield play. He's contributed at ground level as well as in the air, if not to the same level. He's really starting to use his running capacity as a weapon and it has been very enjoyable to watch.
He's terrible below his knees and is not at all agile, but uses his aerobic gifts to get back in defence and to push forward as you rightfully point out.
Nice hands, good kick, courageous and plays with a lot of heart and passion.
I saw a bit of him as a junior and didn't think he'd transition into AFL but is really looking comfortable at the moment.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
I’m hoping he goes on to become the new Sam Fisher. Not in the same role, but as a low draft pick who develops into an AA quality player. Love his hardness, attitude and strong marking. And he kicks goals.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Should be CHF- has all the attributes for possibly the most important position on the ground. Strength, marking, goal-kicking, toughness. We need to get the CHF position sorted.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
His goal-kicking is becoming a feature.
We’re lucky we have Marshall who can also play that role.
So aerially we are a real threat. Oppositions have to cover King, Marshall, Battle, Membrey. If they have two guys on King, theoretically it leaves someone without a man.
The hard part is ensuring they have space in which to work.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Me either mate, Me either. I have posted several times my view that Josh should never be left out of the side. Easily top 22.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
The more I think about it, he sort of reminds me of a bigger version of Goddard.
- samoht
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Re: What to do with Battle...
BR leaving a fast-developing and important young player like Battle out of the side and preferring Marsh or some other player over him at the start of the season, is just as bad as (or probably worse than) AR playing Longer over Marshall - what was it, for 1 game, only??
I mean, AR didn’t have much to go by with Marshall at AFL level - BR, on the other hand, already knew that Battle was tracking beautifully.
If we’re going to be fair and balanced ... BR got this terribly wrong.
I mean, AR didn’t have much to go by with Marshall at AFL level - BR, on the other hand, already knew that Battle was tracking beautifully.
If we’re going to be fair and balanced ... BR got this terribly wrong.
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Re: What to do with Battle...
It was raised at the time...samoht wrote: ↑Mon 17 Aug 2020 2:34pm BR leaving a fast-developing and important young player like Battle out of the side and preferring Marsh or some other player over him at the start of the season, is just as bad as (or probably worse than) AR playing Longer over Marshall - what was it, for 1 game, only??
I mean, AR didn’t have much to go by with Marshall at AFL level - BR, on the other hand, already knew that Battle was tracking beautifully.
If we’re going to be fair and balanced ... BR got this terribly wrong.
Key difference seemed to be that Ratten corrected his mistake in a few weeks whereas it was well over a year, year and a half before Marshall got consistent opportunity... and even that was more due to injury
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Re: What to do with Battle...
Agree Battle should have been playing all season, but I sure am glad he’s not in at Ryder’s expense.samoht wrote: ↑Mon 17 Aug 2020 2:34pm BR leaving a fast-developing and important young player like Battle out of the side and preferring Marsh or some other player over him at the start of the season, is just as bad as (or probably worse than) AR playing Longer over Marshall - what was it, for 1 game, only??
I mean, AR didn’t have much to go by with Marshall at AFL level - BR, on the other hand, already knew that Battle was tracking beautifully.
If we’re going to be fair and balanced ... BR got this terribly wrong.
Paddy - and the two-good-ruckmen strategy - has been massive and a point of difference between us and other sheeple.