Jack Steele speaks on St Kilda’s season, Josh Battle’s future amid Hawthorn interest

St Kilda captain Jack Steele has weighed in on Josh Battle’s $850,000 call on his future, conceding the defender will leave a significant hole if he departs for Hawthorn.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 25: Josh Battle of the Saints and his daughter are seen in the rooms after the round 24 AFL match between Carlton Blues and St Kilda Saints at Marvel Stadium, on August 25, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

St Kilda captain Jack Steele hopes the club’s late-season purple patch can help set the foundation to rise up the ladder next year.

The Saints won five out of the last six games when Jack Higgins’ miraculous last minute snap pipped Carlton in an epic finish at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

The club will now await a decision from star defender Josh Battle as he weighs up a blockbuster offer from Hawthorn with Steele saying he was still hopeful the intercepting backman would still stay at Moorabbin.

Steele, who went to Carlton wrecking ball Patrick Cripps late on Sunday, said the Saints’ strong late-season form showed the team had great character and a bright future.

“At our best, we are pretty good,” Steele said.

“As we have shown in the last six weeks, we can match it with the best, so I’m glad we won so we could build on the confidence and the belief going into the break.

“We are still going to need to get to work in the off-season and Ross (Lyon) made that really clear.

“I think we are as capable as anyone, and you look at the competition and how close it is and how quickly things can change.

“We are in a great position as a group.”

Josh Battle after St Kilda’s win over Carlton, which could be his last match for the club. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Down back and up forward, Josh Battle is standing up 💪 pic.twitter.com/JknnsNjUaI

— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) May 13, 2024

The Saints will have pick seven in the draft and will hope Battle’s departure, if he leaves, would trigger pick eight as free agency compensation, giving the Saints a pair of top picks to add to their midfield stocks.

The Hawks’ offer is believed to be in the vicinity of $850,000 a year across six seasons.

But Steele, who joined the Saints the same time as Battle in late 2016, said his teammate seemed genuinely torn, and could yet stay.

“Absolutely, (I think he is) still weighing it up,” Steele said.

“He loves the club, and he has been a part of this club as long as I have, so I know if he did leave he would be pretty sad about it.

“So, I’m hoping he doesn’t (depart). I hope he stays.

“He is a valuable asset to us and what we are trying to do as a team. Hopefully it swings our way but we will wait and see.

“We love him, he is a star.”

Originally published as Jack Steele speaks on St Kilda’s season, Josh Battle’s future amid Hawthorn interest