Unrestricted Free Agent Josh Battle [UFA 2024]

[stavro#4]

It’s far from identical.

St Kilda finished 6th last year.

With all the academy bids and compo picks, a Band 1 pick for Gresham would have been Pick 19.

A potential North Band 1 result would be in the top 5 picks and likely completely unaffected by any Academy or FS bids.

There’s a far greater incentive for North to threaten to match a bid and force Collingwood to part with draft capital than there was with St Kilda and Gresham.

Either way, this is a very moot point, Zurhaar is extremely close to the Band 1 threshold anyway.

What is Collingwoods offer in your opinion if a trade is forced?

Band 1 is estimated at 850-900k.

You said your offer was 750k.

How did you get “extremely close”?

In all likelihood the pies offer for Zurhaar will be 750-800k. They won’t be throwing a guaranteed 100k extra on your offer.

North like Stkilda - would be happy to keep the player. Also like the saints you would be happy with a first round pick.

We knew we weren’t getting band 1 for Gresham. Which is why we tried to rig the system by taking Shiel and the dons paying Gresh abit more to trigger band 1 and we would give a second rounder back for Shiel as part of the deal.

Which the AFL knocked back.

If Zurhaar was to leave - which I’m not sure he will. It will be for a band 2 deal. Your own club is effectively telling you this with their own offer. They haven’t low balled the guy.

Battles offer from us is 800/6. I believe both clubs are now 850/6 and that is being spoken about as thereabouts band 1 compo.

 

[Sphynx]

Band 1 is estimated at 850-900k.

You said your offer was 750k.

How did you get “extremely close”?

In all likelihood the pies offer for Zurhaar will be 750-800k. They won’t be throwing a guaranteed 100k extra on your offer.

North like Stkilda - would be happy to keep the player. Also like the saints you would be happy with a first round pick.

We knew we weren’t getting band 1 for Gresham. Which is why we tried to rig the system by taking Shiel and the dons paying Gresh abit more to trigger band 1 and we would give a second rounder back for Shiel as part of the deal.

Which the AFL knocked back.

If Zurhaar was to leave - which I’m not sure he will. It will be for a band 2 deal. Your own club is effectively telling you this with their own offer. They haven’t low balled the guy.

Battles offer from us is 800/6. I believe both clubs are now 850/6 and that is being spoken about as thereabouts band 1 compo.

Why would North be “happy” with Band 2? When Band 1 is a minuscule difference and we could achieve a better deal by matching?

Just because St Kilda caved to the Bombers doesn’t mean every club does.

If you will remember, North employed the exact same tactic with McKay last year, the initial contract reports were a good deal lower to begin with.

Journo’s openly reported that we had threatened Essendon we would match bids that didn’t result in Band 1 compo. Essendon even used the AFL’s mechanism to submit a bid for review and likely compensation before formal contract submission to completely confirm.

Why do you imagine this would be any different?

 

[stavro#4]

Why would North be “happy” with Band 2? When Band 1 is a minuscule difference and we could achieve a better deal by matching?

Just because St Kilda caved to the Bombers doesn’t mean every club does.

If you will remember, North employed the exact same tactic with McKay last year, the initial contract reports were a good deal lower to begin with.

Journo’s openly reported that we had threatened Essendon we would match bids that didn’t result in Band 1 compo. Essendon even used the AFL’s mechanism to submit a bid for review and likely compensation before formal contract submission to completely confirm.

Why do you imagine this would be any different?

McKay was a tall defender. Which brings a premium - even then it was reported as “close decision”.

So you can get your hopes up about Band 1 for Zurhaar. But the same reason Gresham wasn’t band 1 and Baker from Richmond won’t be band 1 on the open market. Means Zurhaar won’t be.

You can pretend you are threatening the Pies. But I have no doubt if he leaves North, it will be band 2.

 

[botts]

Why would North be “happy” with Band 2? When Band 1 is a minuscule difference and we could achieve a better deal by matching?

Just because St Kilda caved to the Bombers doesn’t mean every club does.

If you will remember, North employed the exact same tactic with McKay last year, the initial contract reports were a good deal lower to begin with.

Journo’s openly reported that we had threatened Essendon we would match bids that didn’t result in Band 1 compo. Essendon even used the AFL’s mechanism to submit a bid for review and likely compensation before formal contract submission to completely confirm.

Why do you imagine this would be any different?

On the open market he is probably worth an end of first round pick. Battle isn’t worth pick 5 but he is worth way more than a zurhaar

 

[Sphynx]

McKay was a tall defender. Which brings a premium - even then it was reported as “close decision”.

So you can get your hopes up about Band 1 for Zurhaar. But the same reason Gresham wasn’t band 1 and Baker from Richmond won’t be band 1 on the open market. Means Zurhaar won’t be.

You can pretend you are threatening the Pies. But I have no doubt if he leaves North, it will be band 2.

Baker isn’t a free agent for starters.

Gresham got compo for what someone was willing to pay him.

It’s really got nothing to do with a players ability.

McKay ended up being well over the threshold, this has been reported on a lot.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

Definitely not blaming the saints at all, good on them. But you'd be pissed as a crows fan dropping down the order because of him. Hawks are crazy

What are you paying Esava?

And you had to trade for him?

Battle is a reasonable acquisition when you are not trading for him

 

[Mostyn]

So North matches and Collingwood have to use their own picks rather than AFL picks invented out of fresh air.

All for $50-$100k

You see where this is going don’t you?

Collingwood just don't take him then.

 

[Mostyn]

Lol at people thinking $850k is in the top 44 contracts.

The McKay compo was ridiculously dodgy. The AFL just didn't want to give North a first round priority pick, but they also didn't want them continuing to be historically bad.

You can't assume they're going to keep doing charity gifts like that.

 

[Mostyn]

They're projecting as many as 50 $1m players in the AFL in 2025. (Google it if you doubt)

That's your band one level.

 

[MickG88]

This will be one of those deals where the herbs and spices work against you.

No way AFL House wants a role player getting a club a top five compo pick. It will be band two, which actually is probably fair compensation for Battle.

James Frawley deal. AFL gave Dees pick 3.

 

[Mostyn]

Why would North be “happy” with Band 2? When Band 1 is a minuscule difference and we could achieve a better deal by matching?

Just because St Kilda caved to the Bombers doesn’t mean every club does.

If you will remember, North employed the exact same tactic with McKay last year, the initial contract reports were a good deal lower to begin with.

Journo’s openly reported that we had threatened Essendon we would match bids that didn’t result in Band 1 compo. Essendon even used the AFL’s mechanism to submit a bid for review and likely compensation before formal contract submission to completely confirm.

Why do you imagine this would be any different?

Because the league themselves aren't incentivised to do a dodgy compensation anymore.

North Melbourne is now more than competitive and the league doesn't need to give them handouts anymore. There's no plausible way Zurhaar is in the top 5% of contracts.

 

[Sphynx]

Because the league themselves aren't incentivised to do a dodgy compensation anymore.

North Melbourne is now more than competitive and the league doesn't need to give them handouts anymore. There's no plausible way Zurhaar is in the top 5% of contracts.

Well there is if he's paid that amount.

McKay was...

 

[Mostyn]

Baker isn’t a free agent for starters.

Gresham got compo for what someone was willing to pay him.

It’s really got nothing to do with a players ability.

McKay ended up being well over the threshold, this has been reported on a lot.

Can you please find something in writing that McKay was well over?

 

[Mostyn]

Well there is if he's paid that amount.

McKay was...

You're suggesting that Zurhaar in 2025 will get more than a million dollars a year?

 

[Sphynx]

You're suggesting that Zurhaar in 2025 will get more than a million dollars a year?

Are you suggesting that's what the 44th player in the comp makes?

 

[Mostyn]

James Frawley deal. AFL gave Dees pick 3.

Yep, same as the McKay deal.

But both were for clubs who were on their knees.

 

[Mostyn]

What are you paying Esava?

And you had to trade for him?

Battle is a reasonable acquisition when you are not trading for him

He's an unrestricted free agent, so there's no risk of being matched.

Has he EVER been a top ten in the B+F?

He's not in the top 25% of wages at St Kilda - and he's supposedly going to be in the top 5% of wages in the whole league?

 

[Mostyn]

Are you suggesting that's what the 44th player in the comp makes?

Google it.

Or I can if you like.

How one of the AFL's most exclusive clubs is set to explode in membership

Player salaries in the AFL will grow massively in the coming seasons, as those in the millionaires club welcome new members due to more money pouring into the game.

www.abc.net.au

They're forecasting 50 players will be paid $1m or more next year.

It's ludicrous to think midlist players like Battle or Zurhaar would be one of them.

 

[Sphynx]

Google it.

Or I can if you like.

How one of the AFL's most exclusive clubs is set to explode in membership

Player salaries in the AFL will grow massively in the coming seasons, as those in the millionaires club welcome new members due to more money pouring into the game.

www.abc.net.au

They're forecasting 50 players will be paid $1m or more next year.

It's ludicrous to think midlist players like Battle or Zurhaar would be one of them.

You haven't factored in frontloading.

McKay is one of those, hes close to the highest paid player in the comp in 2024, one you are claiming isn't earning near that amount.

 

[stavro#4]

He's an unrestricted free agent, so there's no risk of being matched.

Has he EVER been a top ten in the B+F?

He's not in the top 25% of wages at St Kilda - and he's supposedly going to be in the top 5% of wages in the whole league?

He contract was front loaded.

So I wouldn’t be coming in all high and mighty saying he definitively won’t.

Clearly it’s close. That’s why the likes of Twomey are now discussing this.

 

[THE_GUN]

If players like Zurhaar & Battle getting around $1 mil a year

The game has gone mad

 

[botts]

If players like Zurhaar & Battle getting around $1 mil a year

The game has gone mad

Buckle up

 

[Bill Crouse]

He's an unrestricted free agent, so there's no risk of being matched.

Has he EVER been a top ten in the B+F?

He's not in the top 25% of wages at St Kilda - and he's supposedly going to be in the top 5% of wages in the whole league?

He has for the last 2 years been top 10 in the B&F. He will easily be top 10 again this year, probably even if he doesn't play another game.

 

[ABAB]

Buckle up

Battle is being offered $850K, where are you hearing near a $1M for him?

 

[stavro#4]

Battle is being offered $850K, where are you hearing near a $1M for him?

He won’t need 1m to trigger band 1 in 2024.

He will need max 900k.

Potentially 850k with his 6 year deal