Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn, Josh Battle
- Thread starter Dixie Flatline
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It's amazing when you pick up top 3 player from another club. Not easy to do, regardless of the club. Well done Roughy and the recruitment team
We will have such an attacking backline next season. Barrass sweeper going 3rd man up allowing Sicily, scrimshaw, battle to intercept at will, frost and Hardwick taking opposition smalls. Amon, impey ground ball gets from spoils then off to the races.
If they’re having a down day you could throw meek or day down there as an extra.
If they’re having a down day you could throw meek or day down there as an extra.
I see Battle as similar to Himmelberg at GWS. In that he's probably a defender, but if we have a need up forward can play a role there to cover any holes until we fix our depth/get players back.
Frost + Barrass as key defenders + Weddle, Sicily, Scrimshaw, Impey, Amon is a very good line up. Barrass changes the whole feel of the defence, and is the pillar that turns us from having a weakness to attack, to having a top 2-3 defence in competition. Battle then could be thrown forward with Hardwick and it changes the dynamic there until Lewis returns.
I don't think we will permanently move any of Sicily or Weddle, as they are both absolutely elite defenders. But every time they do go forward they look dangerous, so the potential to have one of Battle, Sicily, Weddle up forward at any time is exciting, while still keeping our back 6 very strong. Hardwick can stay forward for longer, where he also looked very dangerous but also felt thin in defence whenever that happened in 2024.
If Lewis gets back as well, then we basically have a whole spine added from the team who lost to Port (Barrass, Frost, Day Battle, Lewis). That is a huge upgrade for a side that was playing as well as us last season.
tommyk72
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Fair overview, but I wouldn't be arguing that Weddle is an elite defender at this point - not defensively anyway.
- Jul 16, 2017
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The job Battle did on Cameron when they played the Cats was outstanding will play in defence for mine
On reflection, the Himmmelburg comparison is good.
Battle up forward is like Scilly or Hardwick up forward. As it suits. Not entire games. Battle targeted for the backline primarily.
Certainly don't want to lose Sciliy's kicking or marking out of the backliine. Weddle's position is still in flux. Perhaps time across HB/Onball/HF. Fundamentally your thoughts match mine.
happy_hawks
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Interesting that Battle is off to NZ with Mitchell, Simpson and Mackay to spend time with professional sporting organisations over there ahead of preseason. All the coaches are doing professional development, Hale US, Ratten UK and Collins in NSW with Canterbury Bulldogs. Not aware of any players other than Battle joining.
Roger Rogerson
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I saw Hale in New York last week.
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Hope he wasn't going to learn anything from the New York Jets.
The Golden Glenferrie
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Or Giants
I know AFL highlights are more relevant, but what really stood out in his draft highlights was how good a kick Battle is:
Very penetrating, both for goal or setting up others. There is the question of 'going to too tall, but if we get another highly efficient, penetrating kick in there next to Sicily, Amon, etc, it is only going to make us more dangerous. He also looks really natural as a forward as well if need him to go there as well.
I think the move is great for him, as Sam has shown he wants to exploit all the strengths of a player for us to be potent as a team. Not many would have moved Hardwick forward given he is a rock as a defender for example, especially with Blanck going down.
I expect Battle to be used in a really aggressive way for us next season.
Very penetrating, both for goal or setting up others. There is the question of 'going to too tall, but if we get another highly efficient, penetrating kick in there next to Sicily, Amon, etc, it is only going to make us more dangerous. He also looks really natural as a forward as well if need him to go there as well.
I think the move is great for him, as Sam has shown he wants to exploit all the strengths of a player for us to be potent as a team. Not many would have moved Hardwick forward given he is a rock as a defender for example, especially with Blanck going down.
I expect Battle to be used in a really aggressive way for us next season.
Jeez why did he not play forward at AFL more often?
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