Sturt captain James Battersby ‘steps away’ from club on eve of SANFL grand final

Dual premiership midfielder and Sturt captain James Battersby has sensationally announced he’s stepping away from footy days before the SANFL grand final for two big reasons.

Sturt captain James Battersby has sensationally “stepped away’’ from the club on the eve of the SANFL grand final.

The 29-year-old dual premiership midfielder - overlooked for the Double Blues’ second semi-final win against grand final opponent Glenelg - made himself unavailable for last Saturday’s reserves preliminary final and will not feature at either league or reserves level this weekend.

Sturt coach Martin Mattner described the club’s situation with the 218-game veteran as “really tough’’, saying that Battersby had “stepped away for the remainder of the year’’ and was undecided about his future.

“It’s been tough for James this year, with his body, his knee, missing so much footy,’’ Mattner said.

“He spoke to me last week and decided he was going to step away for the remainder of the year.

“He said his body wasn’t right and that he probably wasn’t in the head space that he needed to be, which is disappointing.

“He’s been captain of this footy club for a long time and it’s tough to see him in this position, dealing with all this.’’

James Battersby in action for Sturt during last year’s qualifying final against Central District. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

It is understood that Battersby - captain of last year’s The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year - made the call to pull the pin on his season after being told by Mattner that he was unlikely to feature in the Blues’ league grand final side.

Before making himself unavailable for the reserves preliminary final, Battersby had an equal game-high 26 disposals and six clearances, along with kicking a goal, in Sturt’s reserves first semi-final win against North Adelaide.

It followed a 25-disposal performance in the elimination final against the Eagles.

But Battersby - in his sixth year as Sturt skipper - has battled a chronic knee injury all season, which has restricted him to only three league games and seven reserves matches.

He started the season in the league side but was injured in round 2 and returned through the reserves in Round 13.

His league spot has been taken by powerful tall midfielder Angus Anderson, 22, who made this year’s The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year and looms as a mature-age draft prospect.

Anderson has added some explosiveness to a Sturt side, which will start the grand final as hot favourite after a spectacular 18-win, one-loss season, with its only defeat coming in the final minor round against Adelaide by two points.

James Battersby at Unley Oval ahead of his 200th game last season. Picture: Tom Huntley

Battersby is Sturt’s most experienced and decorated player, winning two premierships (in 2016-17) and making the SANFL Team of the Year seven times since debuting in 2013.

A former Crows rookie, he has finished third in the Magarey Medal three times but might have played his last game for the Double Blues.

It is understood North Adelaide, where two of his great mates, Mitch Harvey and Alex Spina play, could be interested in recruiting him.

“We’ll see what happens over the next few weeks,’’ Mattner said of Battersby’s future.

“We’ll give him space and let him work out what he wants to do.’’

This year’s runaway Magarey Medallist, vice-captain Tom Lewis, will captain Sturt in Sunday’s league grand final against Glenelg at Adelaide Oval.

The two clubs will also go head-to-head in the reserves decider.