Battle

[Killa]

But

Said Brett Ratten is now at Hawthorn

The very same Ratten who is accused of rotating Battle thru positions and confusing him hence him leaving St Kilda for Hawthorn

And Roughead is at Hawthorn also

So how close was Battle to those who were at St Kilda and who are now at Hawthorn?

Noting the publicity Kennett is receiving in Court proceedings current

Kennett continues to run Hawthorn as he continues to run the Liberal Party - including by threat which is his DNA it seems from the reporting in the media which includes allegation of threats to pre-selection


Then you have the other matter heading to the Courts

Hawthorn, the “family Club”.

Welcome Mr and Mrs Battle and family

The other problem Hawthorn will have, given retaining Frost and with the WCE player and Battle added, is that if Battle’s form falls away how do they then give him a run in the VFL

Because with that competition for spots and with Sicily pushed forward to accomodate that is a possibility - Sicily preferring to play back because it is easier to do so

[The_Dud]

Doesn’t change the fact he is not as good as Wilkie

Never said he was as good, but he’s close, and made up a lot of ground this year, and could still be improving.

He’s not as good a pure 1-on-1 defender as Wilkie, but he’s better on the rebound and is more flexible.

Trying to pretend he’s some 3rd string B grade player is ridiculous.

[Teflon]

Doesn’t change the fact he is not as good as Wilkie

Never said he was as good, but he’s close, and made up a lot of ground this year, and could still be improving.

He’s not as good a pure 1-on-1 defender as Wilkie, but he’s better on the rebound and is more flexible.

Trying to pretend he’s some 3rd string B grade player is ridiculous.

He’s replaceable that’s the difference

[B.M]

He is a B Grade player

To be an A grader you need to be in the top 3-5 players at your club (depending on strength of team)

We are a weaker team

He sits behind
Rowan
Sinclair
Steele
Wilkie
Nasiah

IMO
Then there’s the injured Crouch and King to consider

Id rate Battle with Hill, Wood and Higgins

[B.M]

He’d be in front of Higgins though

[Otiman]

Maybe he just wanted a shot at being the best defender.

[spert]

Probably sees more chance of playing finals at Hawthorn, plus he may be one of the players who were dark on the club's handling of Ratten.

[samoht]

He is a B Grade player

To be an A grader you need to be in the top 3-5 players at your club (depending on strength of team)

We are a weaker team

He sits behind
Rowan
Sinclair
Steele
Wilkie
Nasiah

IMO
Then there’s the injured Crouch and King to consider

Id rate Battle with Hill, Wood and Higgins

He's definitely ahead of Crouch and King ... and durability counts for something, too.
King at CHB? Could be his position, too ... he might prove elite there? (hopefully, we retain Membrey and our new-found forward line efficiency continues)?

[Killa]

At St Kilda Battle was the 3rd “tall” defender behind Wilkie who has been All Australian and Howard who, at 199cms gets the premium opposition tall forward

[The_Dud]

He is a B Grade player

To be an A grader you need to be in the top 3-5 players at your club (depending on strength of team)

We are a weaker team

He sits behind
Rowan
Sinclair
Steele
Wilkie
Nasiah

IMO
Then there’s the injured Crouch and King to consider

Id rate Battle with Hill, Wood and Higgins

I'd only have Rowan, Sinclair, NAS and Wilkie ahead, he's same level as Steele (who has dropped off a bit) and ahead of the rest you mentioned.

[Scollop]

He is a B Grade player

To be an A grader you need to be in the top 3-5 players at your club (depending on strength of team)

We are a weaker team

He sits behind
Rowan
Sinclair
Steele
Wilkie
Nasiah

IMO
Then there’s the injured Crouch and King to consider

Id rate Battle with Hill, Wood and Higgins

I'd only have Rowan, Sinclair, NAS and Wilkie ahead, he's same level as Steele (who has dropped off a bit) and ahead of the rest you mentioned.

You've lost the plot. I get it though. It fits in with your criticism of our captain in match day threads when we lose. Everyone needs a scapegoat

Embarrassing opinion. Steele is now the same level? Battle nearly win the Brownlow did he?

How many coaches votes did Josh Battle earn this year?

[Scollop]

https://www.saintsational.net/viewtopic ... 6#p2072476

I think the coaches votes are a good guide. Not definitive ...but Steele got more than double that of Battle

[B.M]

Nowhere near as good as Steele

That’s laughable

Steele carried the midfield until the bye with FA support

[perfectionist]

Probably sees more chance of playing finals at Hawthorn...

That's a certainty. Flags are a good bet too.

[D.B.Cooper]

Battle is a very good AFL player, a B to B+ IMO.
Fit, strong, hard, durable, decent hands and disposal.

Wilkie is a gun, A grade.
Lacks the size, speed, strength to play on the competition jets but does it and is rarely beaten.

Wilkie is possibly the smartest player I have seen, his ability to read the play, the ball in flight, to nudge his opponent under it and get away without giving up a free.

He never panics and is consistently good.
Amazing player.

[samoht]

I think Battle plays a game that's somewhat similar to Sicily's (I agree Sicily is a level above).

Whereas Battle complemented Wilkie in a way (noting that Wilkie plays closer, tighter).

We had the complete defence in that sense across half back ... they worked well together.

It's a pity ... actually a shame, if he left for significantly less money (which in turn might equate to a compensation pick in the late 20s).

[The_Dud]

He is a B Grade player

To be an A grader you need to be in the top 3-5 players at your club (depending on strength of team)

We are a weaker team

He sits behind
Rowan
Sinclair
Steele
Wilkie
Nasiah

IMO
Then there’s the injured Crouch and King to consider

Id rate Battle with Hill, Wood and Higgins

I'd only have Rowan, Sinclair, NAS and Wilkie ahead, he's same level as Steele (who has dropped off a bit) and ahead of the rest you mentioned.

You've lost the plot. I get it though. It fits in with your criticism of our captain in match day threads when we lose. Everyone needs a scapegoat

Embarrassing opinion. Steele is now the same level? Battle nearly win the Brownlow did he?

How many coaches votes did Josh Battle earn this year?

Ah sorry, I didn’t watch the Brownlow this year and didn’t realise Steele nearly won.

Good effort by him.

[D.B.Cooper]

I think Battle plays a game that's somewhat similar to Sicily's (I agree Sicily is a level above).

Whereas Battle complemented Wilkie in a way (noting that Wilkie plays closer, tighter).

We had the complete defence in that sense across half back ... they worked well together.

It's a pity ... actually a shame, if he left for significantly less money (which in turn might equate to a compensation pick in the late 20s).

Where is the validation that Battle left for SIGNIFICANTLY less money?

Surely we are to referring to a tweet by Tom Morris as the source are we?

[samoht]

I'm just speculating on all the speculation going around. And I don't know what/who the original source is.

I'm just saying it's a pity that he decided to leave ... and it'd be a real shame if it turns out that he left for substantially less (as it would reflect on the compensation we'd be receiving).

[magnifisaint]

I'm just speculating on all the speculation going around. And I don't know what/who the original source is.

I'm just saying it's a pity that he decided to leave ... and it'd be a real shame if it turns out that he left for substantially less (as it would reflect on the compensation we'd be receiving).

We will find out! It will answer a lot of questions. Battle is just a role player and if he has to make the game I think he may get found out. Maybe Barras may cover for him.

[Scollop]

Embarrassing opinion. Steele is now the same level? Battle nearly win the Brownlow did he?

How many coaches votes did Josh Battle earn this year?

Ah sorry, I didn’t watch the Brownlow this year and didn’t realise Steele nearly won.

Good effort by him.

If you want to exclude every year prior to this year. That's fine. Let's see how 'level' the two players are in the TBM.

As I said in the follow up post- Coaches votes are also an indicator. Were Battle's votes level with Steele's?

Steele has won 2 best and fairests. Steele is a dual All Australian, but according to The_Dud... Battle's 'level' has shot up so high this year (and Steele has dropped off so dramatically) that the 2 players are now equal in output and rating and value to a team.

[Scollop]

In 2021, Steele was 25 years of age and in the best form of his career. The votes below are from the Coaches Association Award in 2021.

114 Clayton Oliver MELB
101 M Bontempelli. WB
101 Ollie Wines PORT
100 Jack Steele STK
97 Touk Miller GC

You'll notice Touk Miller was fifth. He won it a year later in 2022, but he's had serious injuries in 23/24 and of course his level dropped off. It takes time to regain fitness and form and consistency.

In 2022 and 2023 Steele had serious injuries. Broken collar bone. Ruptured AC joint. Surgery on ankle. Wonky knees.

This year I reckon we saw Steele getting back to that old level. He will be one of the best mids in the competition in 2025 if he remains injury free.

[The_Dud]

Yes, I’m comparing them right now, not their histories. And it seems you agree with me, Steele has dropped off from his peak of a few years ago. I think many forget how good he was, a genuine elite mid who was a game breaker and was picked by many to win a Brownlow.

[Scollop]

Yes, I’m comparing them right now, not their histories. And it seems you agree with me, Steele has dropped off from his peak of a few years ago. I think many forget how good he was, a genuine elite mid who was a game breaker and was picked by many to win a Brownlow.

Whoa!! Hold on there ...I outlined that Steele may have come off where he was, but I never agreed they are level

You initially said they are now level. You rate them equally. I disagreed. I still disagree.

They're not rated equally by opposition clubs or our coaches (with votes for Steele in AFLCA being more than double that of Battle in 2024). There's already evidence for you...but you just conveniently ignore that to stick to your flawed opinion.

Josh Battle is not rated equally by those that matter. It'll be confirmed at The Trevor Barker Medal. I won't bring Brownlow votes into it because you'll claim the umpires only vote for midfielders.

[B.M]

Did Tom Stewart, McGovern or Sicily get votes

Battle - is not at the same level as Steele - this year or any other year.

SS player of the Year - as voted by us!
Steele 3rd - 40.5 votes
Battle 6th - 19.5 votes