Did we win this Battle by an inch?

[SuperDuper]

1 inch =2.54cm

Josh Battle is listed at 192cm.
If he were 2.54 cm taller he would be listed at 195cm. Surely he would have gone top 5 if he were 195cm
Instead he slid to pick 39.

Without over-stating the standard of intra club games.. 5 goals in a losing team is a great start as a saint...

[Wayne42]

Every inch counts.

[Trixilver]

He kicked 4 didn't he? He did look impressive. Accurate set shot and that quick fake and goal was surprising.

[CarlD]

Kicked his 5th I thought right on the final siren.

[Jacks Back]

Kicked his 5th I thought right on the final siren.

He was number 30 for Sandy? If so then he kicked five with one on the boundary line about 45 out on the siren. I don't think he missed one.

[saynta]

Kicked his 5th I thought right on the final siren.

Yep and in the official AFL record for 2017 Battle's height is listed as 193cm. Same height as Nick.

[Enrico_Misso]

Looks a gem!
His field kicking was good too.

[snoopygirl]

Stood next to him very briefly after the game. Good size for a kid who probably has a bit of growing still to come & just the one pre season under his belt.

[SaintPav]

This is great news but where the hell are we going to play this guy?

[shrodes]

I think draft position was probably more related to age and maturity, the year 12 stuff and attitude rather than a centimetre or two, particularly when he could still be growing.

[saintsRrising]

This is great news but where the hell are we going to play this guy?

He is our youngest player. So he may well come in for Roo after Roo finishes after the 2018 season. Given that he is doing Year 12 this year too, he may well have a modified program.

Only one intraclub game, and so the intensity was way off AFL, but Battles debut in an intraclub game is the most impressive debut I can recall since I saw Winmar at in intraclub at Frankston many, many, moons ago. Winmar was special though and you just new we had a star. Winmar was also a tad older.

[White Winmar]

Nicky was 21 and had played a fair bit of senior footy in the WAFL. A gem at first sight. I have to admit I'm mildly excited about JB, though, especially as we will need his class in the coming years with Roo heading for retirement. JB is a genuine, "I can't believe we got him at pick 39........etc." along with Gresham and Goddard, I reckon we've done very well with those picks.

[lefty]

I'm still upset we de-listed Eli.... doesn't make sense at all, sigh.

[Bernard Shakey]

I'm still upset we de-listed Eli.... doesn't make sense at all, sigh.

Was he picked up by anyone else? No. Makes plenty of sense!

[silverhalo]

I'm still upset we de-listed Eli.... doesn't make sense at all, sigh.

Was he picked up by anyone else? No. Makes plenty of sense!

Yep, gone to Port...

[saintly]

I'm still upset we de-listed Eli.... doesn't make sense at all, sigh.

Was he picked up by anyone else? No. Makes plenty of sense!

Yep, gone to Port...

Port melbourne

[saintsRrising]

I'm still upset we de-listed Eli.... doesn't make sense at all, sigh.

So you don't think say Stevens, Steele, Battle etc are good options to explore?

[BigMart]

Josh B is in Year 12 but not in the traditional sense still a kid at school. He is already 18.5yo and is obviously doing a 3 year VCE

Reasons for a skinny VCE could be either a few fails or giving him less subjects to help him get decent results and time to focus on his sport.

To put that into context
Arryn Sippos finished Y12 at 17 years 9 months
Josh Battle started Year 12 at 18 years 3 months

But in answer to the question
Yes, we got lucky

[shrodes]

Josh B is in Year 12 but not in the traditional sense still a kid at school. He is already 18.5yo and is obviously doing a 3 year VCE

Reasons for a skinny VCE could be either a few fails or giving him less subjects to help him get decent results and time to focus on his sport.

To put that into context
Arryn Sippos finished Y12 at 17 years 9 months
Josh Battle started Year 12 at 18 years 3 months

But in answer to the question
Yes, we got lucky

Think I heard on the stream yesterday that he is doing three subjects this year which I think is a lighter workload than normal VCE

[BigMart]

Normally 5 in Year 12... unless a student did a unit 3/4 in Y11

Then maybe 4?

But even then most students do 5 in y12 to get an extra which can be a bonus in their ATAR

I'm guessing he chose to do what's called a 'skinny VCE' whereby students do y11/12 over three years to spread their unit 3/4 subjects over two years

[Bernard Shakey]

His plan is that footy is his career.
Basically no option B.
Option A looks pretty good!

[Otiman]

Great mobility, good size and comfortable at ground level. Haven't seen his marking ability but that will be the difference between him being a wing/forward or a defender.

[saynta]

His plan is that footy is his career.
Basically no option B.
Option A looks pretty good!

He was actually on a cricket scholarship

[Bluthy]

From memory the query on him was that he was a little short for a key forward, but he wasn't agile enough for a medium fwd with poor lateral movement. But if he works on being a lead out forward then that is less relevant - and he looked pretty agile in the scratch game anyway.

If he does grow another couple of cm's he'll be Paddy's height. The club does have to give consideration to the danger or Paddy getting further concussions so building in some depth is clever. And if he can't get a forward spot then they could even try him as backmen - good size and with that nice kicking would be handy. So I think its a good example of taking "best available" at the draft to really future proof our list. Also creates good competition for spots on the forward line.

[Bluthy]

http://www.saints.com.au/video/2017-02- ... attle-1702

Some great tackle work - Richo will love seeing that. Members will have to show that work rate off the ball too.