Josh Battle Wants to be a Hawk in 2025
Unrestricted free agent Josh Battle wants to move to Hawthorn. The 25-year-old informed St Kilda on Thursday afternoon that he wishes to exercise his free agency rights. Battle has been considering his future in recent months, but has opted for a fresh start at Waverley Park.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell is understood to have been a key factor in Battle's decision, while new player acquisition manager Jarryd Roughead was also heavily involved in the pursuit. Battle is expected to sign with the Hawks on a six-year contract through to 2031.
The Haileybury College product has played 123 games across his first eight seasons in the AFL after being selected at pick No.39 in the 2016 AFL Draft. "I came to this club while I was still in high school and couldn't have asked for a better place to grow, both as a footballer and a person," Battle said. "I now have a young family of my own, and in planning for our future I've come to the difficult decision to move on from my time at the Saints."
"The club has been fantastic throughout this entire process and I leave so grateful for the support they've shown both my family and I. I'd like to thank all my teammates, coaches and staff who have made my time at the Saints so special, as well as the Saints fans who embraced me from day one."
Battle's Departure: A New Era for the Saints
St Kilda originally drafted Battle as a key forward before developing him into a mobile defender. The Saints have been looking to bolster their defense with young talent, and Battle’s departure is a significant loss for the club. Hawthorn has now secured commitments from Battle and West Coast star Tom Barrass in the past 48 hours.
Barrass, 28, ended months of speculation by submitting a trade request to Hawthorn on Tuesday, despite being contracted until the end of 2027. Under the guidance of third-year coach Mitchell, Hawthorn has qualified for the finals for the first time since 2018 and will now be a big player in October's trade period for the second straight year. The Saints on Wednesday delisted two-time club champion Seb Ross, following the earlier departures of ruck Tom Campbell, former Port Adelaide defender Riley Bonner, forward Matthew Allison and young defender James Van Es.
The Hawks' Big Move: A Sign of Things to Come
Hawthorn’s acquisition of Battle and Barrass is a significant statement of intent. The Hawks are clearly looking to build a strong team for the future, and the addition of these two players will give them a solid foundation to do so. The Hawks are now a big player in the trade period and are likely to be active in the coming weeks. They have a number of players who are out of contract and could be looking to move on, so the Hawks could be in for a busy trade period.
The Battle for Talent: What Does This Mean for the Future?
The Battle and Barrass signings are a sign of the Hawks’ ambition. They are not afraid to make big moves and are clearly looking to challenge for a premiership in the near future. The Hawks have a strong core of young players and are looking to add experienced players to help them take the next step. This move will be followed with intrigue as we approach the AFL Trade period.
The Future is Now: A New Chapter Begins for Josh Battle
Battle’s decision to join Hawthorn is a sign of his ambition. He is looking to take the next step in his career and believes that Hawthorn is the best place for him to do that. He has the potential to be a star defender and will be looking to make an immediate impact at his new club.
The Hawks are looking to build a team around a strong defensive core, and Battle will be a key part of that. He has the potential to be a dominant force in the backline and will be a key player for the Hawks in the years to come.
A New Beginning: Looking Back at the Saints' Legacy
Battle has enjoyed an impressive career with the Saints, but he is ready for a new challenge. He is looking to play for a club that is on the rise and believes that Hawthorn is the perfect fit. He is ready to leave his mark on the league and is ready to do so with a Hawks jumper on.
This move is a sign of the times in the AFL. Clubs are looking to make big moves to improve their squads and are willing to spend big money to do so. The Hawks are clearly looking to take the next step and are not afraid to spend money to do so. It will be interesting to see how the trade period plays out.
