Sturt midfield gun James Battersby named SANFL Player of the Week

A FREAK pre-season injury has helped James Battersby hit peak fitness and form as Sturt ramps up its bid for back-to-back flags. It has also led to him being named SANFL Player of the Week.

Sturt’s James Battersby, at work with Wine Solutions in Norwood, has been named SANFL Player of the Week. Picture: Matt Turner.

A FREAK pre-season injury has helped James Battersby hit peak fitness and form as Sturt ramps up its bid for back-to-back flags.

The midfielder snapped the tendon in his right middle finger when his hand got trapped in an opponent’s guernsey while attempting a tackle during a trial game.

It forced Battersby to miss Sturt’s opening seven matches of the year as he underwent surgery and hand therapy sessions.

He used the time out to take his endurance to new heights, running for more than an hour each night at training.

“The injury was quite annoying because I hadn’t missed a game in a fair while,” Battersby, 21, said.

“My confidence from pre-season was kind of lost, but when I was injured I was running hard. I dropped a couple of kilos and I was the fittest I’ve ever been.

“As soon as I got the cast off, I tried to train as much as I could with the footy in hand. My skills were a bit rusty, but I’m starting to feel good now.”

Battersby demonstrated he was back to his best by collecting a game-high 31 disposals and 14 tackles in Sturt’s 31-point triumph over Central District at Unley on Saturday.

The best-on-ground display helped the Double Blues remain locked in a three-way battle for second place and earnt him SANFL Player of the Week honours.

James Battersby gets his kick away for Sturt while sporting a protective glove as he recovered from a snapped finger tendon. Picture: Sarah Reed

Battersby, who rejoined Sturt after being delisted by the Crows in 2014, said a return to the AFL remained his long-term target.

“I’d love to get a second chance in the AFL,” said the wine delivery driver, who is also studying a bachelor of business at UniSA.

“That’s always going to be my goal until I’m too old.

“But coming back to Sturt it’s been unreal to have Zane Kirkwood there and Aidan Riley, who’s played AFL, just to learn off them.

“I’m only 21 so I still look up to them as my superiors.”

Sturt sits four wins adrift of ladder-leader Woodville-West Torrens with four minor round matches remaining.

Battersby was confident his teammates would again hit their straps in September, after recovering from an 0-4 opening to the campaign.

“Our aim is to keep winning and winning, because we can’t afford to drop any more games after the start we had,” said Battersby, who was taken by Adelaide in the 2013 Rookie Draft.

“The top three spots are pretty close with Port, Norwood and Glenelg there.

“The Eagles have pretty much sown up top spot, but ... we’re pretty confident if we play our best footy on the day we can match it with anyone.”