Josh Battle

Josh Battle
Battle playing for St Kilda in April 2019
Personal information
Full name	Josh Battle
Date of birth	(1998-09-01) 1 September 1998 (age 23)
Original team(s)	Dandenong Stingrays (TAC Cup), Haileybury College, Melbourne (APS)
Draft	No. 39, 2016 national draft
Debut	Round 17, 2017, St Kilda vs. Essendon, at Etihad Stadium
Height	193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	89 kg (196 lb)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current club	St Kilda
Number	26
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2017–	St Kilda	40 (23)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2020.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Josh Battle (born 1 September 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by St Kilda with their second selection and thirty-ninth overall in the 2016 national draft.^[1] He made his debut in the sixty-one point loss to Essendon at Etihad Stadium in round seventeen of the 2017 season.

AFL Career[]

Before committing to AFL, Battle was a talented cricketer as a junior receiving a cricket scholarship to Haileybury College.^[2] He also played in the Victorian Under-17 side.^[3] Battle eventually chose AFL after her was selected by the AIS/AFL Academy. On his choice, Battle stated that “in Year 10, when footy was starting to ramp up with bottom-age Stingrays and trying to play cricket, I knew I couldn’t do both, because it was just too hard on the body. I was missing trainings for either one of the two, so it wasn’t fair on other guys that were missing out. I sat down with Dad and he said, ‘Do whatever you find most enjoyable and what you see yourself doing in the future’, and that was footy."^[2]

Battle was regarded as one of the best forwards in his draft year, after kicking the most goals of any division at the under-18s championships - 11 goals in four games for Vic Country.^[4] Battle also impressed at TAC Cup level, booting 24.13 across eight games. Battle was invited to the AFL Draft Combine where he impressed with his elite endurance by running a 10:07 3km time-trial and reaching 13.7 in the Beep Test. He also won the 3km test at the AFL Academy camp in January that year.

Battle completed year 12 studies in his first season at the Saints. Of juggling both high school and football commitments, Battle stated that "at the time I just wanted to play footy and wasn't too keen on school, but I had good people in my corner who said it would be best to finish school because you don't know how long footy will last. It was difficult because I was only at footy one day a week and the rest of the time I'd train on my own with a couple of coaches, but I was lucky enough to make my debut on the school holidays – that was pretty cool."^[3] Battle made his debut, still as a schoolby, in round 17 against Essendon.

Battle played six games in 2018, and may have appeared in more if it were not for injuries. Battle sustained a fractured eye socket and also battled concussion symptoms in the last three rounds of 2018. Battle kicked two and three-goal hauls in his second and third games of AFL respectively. Of just his second game, Coach Alan Richrdson described Battle's performance as "a shining light...He kicked a couple of goals, but it was probably more his physicality, his ability to be able to put enormous pressure on when he had the opportunity to tackle.”^[5]

In 2019, Battle played primarily as a defender, a position he'd never played prior. Coach Richardson saw Battle able to play a James Sicily-type role.^[6] He was a maintsay of the St Kilda side that year, playing 19 of a possible 22 games and averaged 14.7 possessions, six marks and three tackles a game. Battle found himself playing on some of the stars of the competition, including Jack Guntson (who he kept goalless and had 16 touches himself in a round four win) and Jack Darling (who he conceded just one goal and collected a career-high 21 possessions in a three-goal loss).^[6]

2020 saw the Saints reach finals for the first time since 2011, and Battle played a big part in a Covid-interrupted season. Battle was unable to break into the side early in the season, with new defender Dougal Howard cementing a place in defence. Battle was called up in round four and played four straight games, including three wins. Battle suffered a concussion following the round seven win over Adelaide. He returned the week later, and played nine consequitve games before a foot injury ruled him out of the Saints' elimination final. Battle recovered and played his first AFL final in the Saints' Semi Final loss to eventual premiers Richmond. He ultimately played 14 of a possible 19 games that year.

Statistics[]

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season^[7]

Notes

Personal life[]

At Haileybury College, Battle formed a friendship with Essendon great Matthew Lloyd, who was an assistant coach of the school's senior football team. According to Battle: "I've worked pretty closely with 'Lloydy' since year nine and I still keep in touch with him. We catch up once a month or so. He's a very supportive friend and he gives me great advice."^[3]

Battle once dated socialite Mia Fevola, stepdaughter of former Carlton and Brisbane forward Brendan Fevola.^[8]

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Josh Battle.

• Josh Battle's profile on the official website of the St Kilda Football Club
• Josh Battle's playing statistics from AFL Tables