Must have been some trouble behind the scenes. Maybe they saints know they’re only getting band 2 comp and are ■■■■■■ that he didn’t haggle for band 1? IDK but it’s very weird to shun a player like that.
He’s certainly got a unique voice that Bassat fella
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Yikes.
Fair enough too.
Love this stance from them.
Nah…this is just another example of why they’re a pissweak tin rattling mob of losers.
The guy has given them 8 years of service and now sees an opportunity to get a long term contract that should set him and his family up financially for life and also go to a club on the rise with a proven history of success.
The idea that clubs “need to be tough” on players is a load of rubbish.
Clubs delist players at the drop of a hat even when they more to give (hello Nick Hind) and without batting an eyelid.
They only get sh*tty when the players do the reverse.
A mature club would have thanked Battle for his services…or at the very least allowed him to attend and then go quietly off to Hawthorn.
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I’d leave it up to the player. Some may not feel comfortable to attend in case they get abused by a disgruntled supporter. For others they may see it as a chance to say goodbye. I doubt Josh Battle would be the type to cause trouble and part in acrimonious circumstances so that decision is probably a little petty from the Saints…
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Saints fans saying that Battle told players face to face that he was staying on Mad Monday and then sent a group break-up text the next day.
Yep. Weak as ■■■■.
Deserved to be uninvited. Don’t want to be at the club anymore? OK. Don’t rock up to club functions then.
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Not the AFLs fault that their recruitment and list management is complete rubbish, probably worse than ours. Constantly bringing in horseshit from other clubs and acting like they’re great players
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There was a half dozen players at Freo who have lit Ross up for childish behaviour like this.
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I dunno about you guys but whenever I’ve decided I want a new employer, attending work functions is never high on my list of things I want to spend my time doing.
I can’t imagine Battle was too fussed. He could always catch up with his mates from the club after the event.
Interesting stance from him.
If they still had footy zones like they did years ago, blokes like McCluggage, Berry, Butters, Cadman, Lohmann and a host of others from the Bajpllarat region would probably been tied to Saints.
Just because his former players cannot turn out sons that can play, is probably more to do with luck. Pies get Daicos boys, Lions getting another Ashcroft and Fark Carlton getting two Campos. We got two Daveys ! Not sure we did well from the Danihers
Reckon the only issue with recruitment at present is these “academy” boys, as not sure Melbourne Clubs get anything. Seeing how much Melbourne Clubs have given to support all Sydney and Brisvegas mobs, I reckon their academy boys should go into the draft just like anyone else.
McCluggage and Bailey are both from Fitzroy’s old area (Allansford and Narrawong). Their fathers played together in a South Warrnambool flag in the 90s.
It was all over the Warrnambool Standard early in the week.
I just knew where he went to school and that he was a country boy. Did you know much about him before we took McGrath before him ?
I had seen Patrick Dangerfield play as a young teenager as we had a friend with a house at Moggs Creek who knew the family. One game was enough for me to think he was a special player, and we took David Myers a few picks before him.
I know schoolboy footy does not always translate to seniors, but the special ones stand out. I often wonder about recruitment experts.
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I only got down here 2 months before the draft. To my memory, Ainsworth and McCluggage and maybe Setterfield were the ones spruiked before the TAC finals. Taranto, McGrath etc only moved up in the late finals.
Reckon Mattys son could be one basically coaching him since he could walk.
Bassett better shut his gob now about “equalisation” after getting pick 8 compo for Battle.
I think he knew what he was doing.
Saints got the break they desperately needed and another step backwards for us.