The Josh Battle Thread

[BangBnagBang 531]

Smart list management 101.

Tommo will leave seeking a trade for better opportunity, he'd be made not too. The next 3-4 weeks is his job interview.

Battle come in as a FA.

Melb brings in the Tommo draft pick and also younger player to play the same role.

[whatwhat say what 20,336]

25 minutes ago, BangBnagBang said:

Smart list management 101.

Tommo will leave seeking a trade for better opportunity, he'd be made not too. The next 3-4 weeks is his job interview.

Battle come in as a FA.

Melb brings in the Tommo draft pick and also younger player to play the same role.

i don't think that quite works, as they're both unrestricted free agents

melbourne gets no compo as one free agent comes in and one goes out

[Ted Lasso 17,312]

I think this move strongly hints that we will enter 2025 without Tom McDonald or Adam Tommlinson AND we intend to persist with Petty forward into the future. 

Battle isn't going to come to the MFC to sit in the 2's until May decides to retire, he would rightly want to come to a situation where he is clearly starting 22 

[BangBnagBang 531]

1 hour ago, whatwhat say what said:

i don't think that quite works, as they're both unrestricted free agents

melbourne gets no compo as one free agent comes in and one goes out

yeah you are correct. Id forgotten Tommo came to us a FA already. Once a free agent always a free agents i think

[Winners at last 4,933]

It's a yes from me.

[whatwhat say what 20,336]

i had quick squizz on his thread on bigfooty draft board - north fans reckon they're offering him $1m a year for 6 years to jump across to them

hawks fans also think they're a big chance to land him

i hope we are, as they say, "in the conversation"

[spirit of norm smith 13,583]

Wow. $1m a year for 6 seasons. That’s ridiculous money. Though North are in desperate times and need to stabilize their defence.  

Edited May 28 by spirit of norm smith
D

[MrFreeze 1,612]

1 hour ago, Ted Lasso said:

I think this move strongly hints that we will enter 2025 without Tom McDonald or Adam Tommlinson AND we intend to persist with Petty forward into the future. 

Battle isn't going to come to the MFC to sit in the 2's until May decides to retire, he would rightly want to come to a situation where he is clearly starting 22 

We have shopped Tommo and TMAC around previously without any interest, not sure what will change this year 

[whatwhat say what 20,336]

Just now, MrFreeze said:

We have shopped Tommo and TMAC around previously without any interest, not sure what will change this year 

i figure whoever offers tomlinson a three year deal will land him as a free agent

[Ted Lasso 17,312]

5 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

i figure whoever offers tomlinson a three year deal will land him as a free agent

I agree, but possibly we wouldn't offer him more than 1 year at this point so if he's got outside interest it seems likely he will go. he'd be a good fit at a club like North. 

Tmac is probably one more injury away from retiring, so really trying to enjoy his great form while he's going so well

[Rossmillan 507]

Barring Jake Lever, all our key defensive stocks are 30+.  Let’s face it Jake Lever is almost with them.

It makes sense for us to make changes that are in the right age profile where possible in an incremental way.  Rather than us losing 2 or 3 in one hit.

Seems like the right type of player to me.  I’d rather take a known quantity in the key defensive posts than risking drafting for one given our current age demographic in this area.

[Diamond_Jim 12,097]

Can't see the club offering Tomlinson or TMac more than a year. It may come with some quiet KPI's as to the following year. In the case of TMac they might smooth it out to two year with a light bonus so the package totals to say 1.4 years worth of salary.

Should be ample room for Battle if he is what the club needs

[Lexinator 948]

One of the better Saints players. If Tomlinson leaves and TMac retires, then every chance we land him if he's chasing success. Regardless, this would be a great acquisition. 

[Demon Disciple 11,194]

Definitely like the way Battle goes about his footy. Also like his ability to play both ends of the ground and his penchant to rack up decent disposal numbers.

[Travy14 1,608]

Yup, like this move. good solid player.  Beautiful long kick on him too

[BW511 2,346]

In my eyes, he’s an upgrade on Turner, Tomlinson and Howes. Not quite KPD but capable enough and good at intercepting.

Far more attacking with ball in hand too.

We’d be mad not to have a look.

 

[Fritta and Turner 3,887]

If you think he is coming to the Dees you are joshing.  It will be a real battle to get him.

[picket fence 15,738]

Pizz Petty of, he is cooked and not a forward. Trade to Adelaide is the way to go IMV

[ANG13 1,641]

5 hours ago, MrFreeze said:

We have shopped Tommo and TMAC around previously without any interest, not sure what will change this year 

Pretty sure the main reason Tommo has had no interest was his contract. I think he will get offers this year. 

[monoccular 16,610]

23 hours ago, MrFreeze said:

I think Battle can command a key position in the backline for sure. He will look better in our system too.

Anyone with talent who wants to fit into a defensive system would surely be interested in coming to the Dees.

8 hours ago, Ted Lasso said:

I think this move strongly hints that we will enter 2025 without Tom McDonald or Adam Tommlinson AND we intend to persist with Petty forward into the future. 

Battle isn't going to come to the MFC to sit in the 2's until May decides to retire, he would rightly want to come to a situation where he is clearly starting 22 

Much as I am absolutely chuffed at TMcD's Lazarus season 2024, I strongly suspect that he will call it a day, as a great servant, at the end of the season.

6 hours ago, MrFreeze said:

We have shopped Tommo and TMAC around previously without any interest, not sure what will change this year 

One thing (vide supra) is certain, is that TMcD will not be moving clubs.  90% retiring IMO.

Tommo may well see this opening as his golden opportunity to get a permanent (as much as anything in footy is permanent) role in an excitingly dour backline.

[Dee*ceiving 1,231]

I can see 4 definite outs 

• We are already two players down, Brayshaw (retired) (1) and Smith (highly unlikely to return) (2). 
• Brown will retire (3); Scache will be delisted (4) 

Likely outs

• Agree, Tommo will seek other options (5)
• Petty will try again to get to Adelaide, especially if his form perists the way it has and we continue to play him forward. Crows will play the 'number one defender role' card (6)
• AMW, Verrall and Sestan are all second year rookies. Can they be rookied for a third year? My guess would be two would go, AMW the likely one unless he gets a taste in the second half of the season seeing he's been the most consistent of the 3 at casey (2)

With McVee due to be promoted to the main list that looks like 

• 6 main list exits (Brayshaw, Smith, Brown, Schache, Tomlinson, Petty), one promotion (McVee), net -5 
• 3 rookie list exits (2 of AMW/Sestan/Verrall and McVee)

Not sure we could afford to lose TMac.  

 

[layzie 30,302]

He's still in the league? 

[Pennant St Dee 11,772]

Would be happy with this UFA pick up