He was unhappy with Ratten, was looking to move then, Mowman are you lurking about? He can confirm that.Unrestricted Free Agent.
No club has ever let someone the calibre of battle become one of those at 25/26 after drafting them.
That's how we are responsible if the compo is garbage.
Btw- Battle not being cemented in our best 22 (as a 23 year old) when he signed his last contract is a complete myth- he finished top 10 in our bnf in september 2022.
He signed his last contract with us in august 2022.
Battle won: Defender re-signs, question mark on veterans
Josh Battle extends his stay at Moorabbin for another two years, club turns to unsigned starswww.afl.com.au
From aug 2022:
Battle has become a permanent fixture in Brett Ratten’s backline in 2022, playing all 19 games since moving down there alongside Dougal Howard and Cal Wilkie.
After being drafted from the Dandenong Stingrays as a key forward, Battle has played all over the ground until producing a career-best season as a defender.
The 193cm, 92kg backman is rated elite among key defenders for disposals, kicks, marks and metres gained across the first 20 rounds.
Our club have plenty of responsibility for letting him become an unrestricted free agent.
That results in us not being able to force a trade if the likely compo sucks.
We made our bed back in 2022- now we need to lie in it if it's band 2.
I would say he and his manager said two only and Saints said ok but that brings you to UFA so you dont get top $$.
Surmising of course and we let it be known last trade period if we got the right deal Battle was available.
Adding 2+2 = 6 With Battle not really settled and when they found out he was shopped, he thought, stuff this I'm off.
Not completely all the clubs fault, but certainly clumsy and the result is no Battle.
If we dont get pick 8 which is minimum compo, it is as big a disaster as Luke Ball for nothing in my view,