Battle

[B.M]

Wouldn’t have had Nick Dal Santo for starters

[B.M]

Or the Salary Cap room to retain about 4 others

[The_Dud]

Hawthorn looking like a juicy destination suddenly.

We should try drive up his price to guarantee top 10 compo, anything less than that and we’ve lost out big time.

[samuraisaint]

After today, he is worth every penny of it.

[samoht]

Battle had 28 disposals ... that's midfield numbers.

[SaintPav]

Is he going to sign?

What’s the latest rumour?

[magnifisaint]

Given what Hawthorn wants to pay, he probably leaves. Irrespective of what people say, the money is probably the overriding factor.

[Vortex]

Given what Hawthorn wants to pay, he probably leaves. Irrespective of what people say, the money is probably the overriding factor.

When you get asked in a post match interview about your pending contract decision and your response is something along the line of:

At the moment my main focus is my wife and 2 young children so I'll just let my manager take care of that.

That pretty much is saying it's all about the money and its a win-win for me either way but right at the moment St Kilda are a little short on their offer.

[mr six o'clock]

Given what Hawthorn wants to pay, he probably leaves. Irrespective of what people say, the money is probably the overriding factor.

When you get asked in a post match interview about your pending contract decision and your response is something along the line of:

At the moment my main focus is my wife and 2 young children so I'll just let my manager take care of that.

That pretty much is saying it's all about the money and its a win-win for me either way but right at the moment St Kilda are a little short on their offer.

I've thought for a while he's probably likely to go , however I noticed watching the replay that after the game ,singing the song he was holding one of his kids . Not the actions of someone who is at odds with the club . Maybe he's more keen on staying than going.

[Nick DalSanto Claus]

A little over a month ago I was resigned to the fact that he was leaving. Now I'm not so sure.

The way both he and the team have played in the last 6 weeks (brions aside), has changed the whole dynamic.

Both he and the whole team have played with real purpose and renewed vigour. He isn't playing like someone who's just going through the motions until the season ends.

Sure the hawks have the dollars and look like an exciting prospect, but I think we're starting to form into RTB's vision for the future.

I believe the hawks are experiencing a bit of a sugar hit. They've won a few close ones. If we'd done better in our close ones, we'd be where they are right now.

Battle has become an onfield leader in a group in desperate for more of his type. If we have to bump up the offer, I say do it.

We've lost too many players in the past, who've gone on and tasted the ultimate glory elsewhere. Make sure that if he becomes a premiership player, it's with us.

[repta]

Saints need to work out where they are.

If they are contending - Battle is a required player.
Can't swap him for a pick (say pick 6-10) and expect the saints to be better next year (or within 2 years).

If they are rebuilding - swap him for improvement in 3+ years.

Battles loss will make Saints a weaker team.
Therefore are they rebuilding or contending?


What happened to to famed War Chest?

[SaintWiki]

Hope the club can meet his needs and keep him, but if the rumour that was around a month or two back that his mate plays for Hawthorn and he supported them as a kid are true etc and he really wants to go, then I wish him well. But I may lose a few hours sleep over it.

[St Dave]

Saints need to work out where they are.

If they are contending - Battle is a required player.
Can't swap him for a pick (say pick 6-10) and expect the saints to be better next year (or within 2 years).

If they are rebuilding - swap him for improvement in 3+ years.

Battles loss will make Saints a weaker team.
Therefore are they rebuilding or contending?


What happened to to famed War Chest?

I think we know where we are. We aren't going from 14th to really challenging (clear top 4) next year, so our timeline is challenging in 2 years at the earliest.

And if you think maybe Battles replacement is already on the list (Hammer, Arie, Gus or another kid) then you have time to develop them to fill that hole.

It also helps in this regard that Ross is a defensive coach. His team defence system will go a long way cover the loss of an individual player.

Saints are in a win win position. Either keep him without paying overs or get first round compo in a pretty good/even draft (apparently).

[Yorkeys]

If hoping helps surely we will keep Josh. Hawthorn supporters can't possibly love or appreciate him as much as us.
However money talks.
We can provide comparable money and a lot of his hierarchical human needs but who knows what Josh values at the moment.
Hawthorn's bubble will burst and they are double dating with Barass.
Anyway we will know in a couple of weeks. I'll just keep hoping in case it helps.

[B.M]

Josh is probably our 6th or 7th best player

And this is where he’ll finish in the B&F

And that’s how I’d consider his contract

I don’t think we should overpay to keep someone - if he wants to leave - then we move on

[WellardSaint]

I've learned not to expect much with the club.
Their flag apirations are like nuclear fusion- only a few years away, we're working towards it.

Let Battle go.
We won't be top 4 in the next 3 years anyway.

Look at our big holes in the midfield.

[D.B.Cooper]

Given what Hawthorn wants to pay, he probably leaves. Irrespective of what people say, the money is probably the overriding factor.

When you get asked in a post match interview about your pending contract decision and your response is something along the line of:

At the moment my main focus is my wife and 2 young children so I'll just let my manager take care of that.

That pretty much is saying it's all about the money and its a win-win for me either way but right at the moment St Kilda are a little short on their offer.

I've thought for a while he's probably likely to go , however I noticed watching the replay that after the game ,singing the song he was holding one of his kids . Not the actions of someone who is at odds with the club . Maybe he's more keen on staying than going.

Good post, the only point I think you miss is the comment around being at odds with the club.

You can love the club, the players and the supporter base and still move on.

If he is being offered more money and believes the new club has a better chance of success you may leave.

This is Josh’s job, how he supports his young family and builds for his future, as he is unlikely to earn this amount per annum post football, therefore if he has the chance of significant pay increase, I say go for it young man.

If he does and we get a pick in the top 10 it’s win/win.

[Sanctorum]

Josh Battle is having a realy good season, he had a blinder against Richmond on Sunday and based on that form I really hope he signs a new contract.

It's been reported that Hawthorn are into the Eagles' Tom Barrasss, also a key defender, which means they are unlikely to want both him as well as Battle as both will be on big coin.

[magnifisaint]

Josh Battle is having a realy good season, he had a blinder against Richmond on Sunday and based on that form I really hope he signs a new contract.

It's been reported that Hawthorn are into the Eagles' Tom Barrasss, also a key defender, which means they are unlikely to want both him as well as Battle as both will be on big coin.

Not sure about that. Somehow they can fit both into the salary crap.

[St Dave]

Josh Battle is having a realy good season, he had a blinder against Richmond on Sunday and based on that form I really hope he signs a new contract.

It's been reported that Hawthorn are into the Eagles' Tom Barrasss, also a key defender, which means they are unlikely to want both him as well as Battle as both will be on big coin.

Not sure about that. Somehow they can fit both into the salary crap.

Yeah, they don't have many real A graders on their list currently, mostly value recruiting (eg Amon and Ginni) and young recruits playing out of their skins. So they front load the Battle/Barrass contacts while they have the cash now, say 1.2-1.5m ish per year over the first few years and reduce it way down in the last few years when their kids are up for new deals. Overall it averages about 900k-1m per year but the club gets the flexibility to manage all their players over time.

The same will happen when King or Pou gets their new monster deal in a few years.

[silverhalo]

Love Josh Battle and would prefer him to stay but if we did lose him, are we a chance to land that pick 5 or 6 in the draft - I read recently that the AFL has changed the rules around it (probably to counter St.Kilda's chance of getting it!) - the criteria is a lot stricter. Does anyone have a handle on this? Cheers..

[SaintPav]

This is my fear as well.

If a 6 year contract at ~$900K doesn’t get us a first rounder it will be a travesty.

I don’t think matching the offer even comes into it but we should if the the club doesn’t get what it’s seeking.

[Brunswicksainter]

Josh Battle is having a realy good season, he had a blinder against Richmond on Sunday and based on that form I really hope he signs a new contract.

It's been reported that Hawthorn are into the Eagles' Tom Barrasss, also a key defender, which means they are unlikely to want both him as well as Battle as both will be on big coin.

Not sure about that. Somehow they can fit both into the salary crap.

What makes you think they wouldn’t be able to fit those two in their salary caps? Should have more than enough space. Remember the cap is 15.8 million annually, looking at their list and age demographic only Sicily would be on big coin. Feasible they could fit in 3 or 4 +$800k players this off season.

[B.M]

Will Day is an elite mid

[samuraisaint]

JB will be one very hard to replace player. For mine he is now as important to us as Shaun Dempster was in 2008-11.

If he has to go, drive his price up because we are going to need very expensive compensation to cover that loss - along with the work the club has put into him since his first game in 2017.

Has to be a round 1 pick for mine - and even then, I don't want to lose him.