The chase for an out-of-contract Saint is heating up, as a club on the rise tables a contract that would see him locked away until 2030.
And its rival coach has even made direct contact with the player in an attempt to lure him away from Moorabbin.
BATTLE FOR BATTLE CONTINUES TO BOIL
In-demand St Kilda utility Josh Battle continues to receive more attention by the week, as intrigue builds over his whereabouts beyond 2024.
Battle, who has been linked to an ever-keen Hawthorn for some time now, has been tabled a deal for half a dozen years by the brown and gold according to AFL.com.au’s Callum Twomey.
Speaking on his podcast Gettable with co-host Riley Beveridge, Twomey believes there is no clear leader for the 193cm defender as the Hawks close in with a strong contract offer.
“This is getting tight now; I think it’s a bit of a line-ball call between St Kilda and the Hawks – Melbourne’s been chasing, I think their fall-off in form as the Hawks rise in form has probably swung the ledger a little bit. Collingwood’s been linked as well” Twomey said.
“(The) Hawks’ offer as I understand it will be six years for him as an unrestricted free agent – I expect the Saints to be putting forward the same deal at six years to keep him.”
Separate from Twomey’s report, SEN’s Sam Edmund has in addition revealed that Hawthorn’s enthusiasm to lure the key defender runs as deep as current coach Sam Mitchell.
Edmund on Wednesday afternoon published that Battle has had numerous phone calls with the third-year Hawks coach, who is evidently not shy to apply a pro-active approach.
The key forward-turned-defender is looked up favourably by Hawthorn, who this year had several key defenders fall through injury before Round 1.
And in a market that lacks reliable key backs, Battle is rightfully letting his form and outside speculation do the talking before putting pen to paper at any club.
Given the sudden rise of Hawthorn’s credentials this season, the lure to Hawthorn is understandable given its seemingly bright future.
Battle has played 114 games at the Saints since his debut in Round 17, 2017 for just two finals appearances – a semi-final in 2020 and last year’s elimination final against GWS.
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