St Kilda defender Josh Battle to join Hawthorn as free agent

St Kilda’s last-ditch attempt to keep Josh Battle at Moorabbin has been revealed as the defender explained why he chose Hawthorn after months after haggling from both clubs.

Josh Battle will join Hawthorn as a free agent. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

St Kilda is hopeful their increased offer to Josh Battle will help trigger first-round compensation after they handed him a last-ditch deal that was worth as much as $950,000 a season over six years.

Hawthorn has won the tug of war for Josh Battle in another coup for Sam Mitchell as the Hawks 2025 backline rapidly takes shape.

Battle finally informed the Hawks and St Kilda on Thursday after months of delays that he was keen to find a fresh challenge at the Hawthorn football club.

The Herald Sun reported last month that the Hawks had emerged from their meeting with the free agent believing he wanted to play at the finals contender after his meeting with Mitchell.

The chance for a fresh start at a club in premiership contention, the connection with Mitchell and the club’s ambitious plans for the Dingley headquarters all played a part in his decision making.

Josh Battle climbs over Jimmy Webster to mark. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

It can be confirmed St Kilda put one final offer to Battle in the belief that it could have seen him stay at Moorabbin that nearly hit $6 million.

Instead he decided to leave for Hawthorn.

The initial Hawthorn offer over six years was not enough to trigger first-round compensation for St Kilda given it did not reach $950,000 a year.

But St Kilda is optimistic that Battle would only have moved to Hawthorn if they could match the deal, which would allow them to secure a pick immediately after their own first-round pick at No.7 in the draft.

The Hawks are aware that the compensation drama will go down to the line given their offer is less than the St Kilda deal but could still just hit the first-round trigger.

Securing picks 7 and 8 in the national draft would be a boon for St Kilda given Battle is a star but would not have been traded if he was in contract for a pick of that magnitude.

It would allow the Saints to secure a star mid and potentially another key back like Victorian teen Luke Trainor to develop over the year.

Dancing with the stars, featuring Josh Battle 🎶

Once, twice, three times! #AFLTigersSaintspic.twitter.com/LZ4Vt5kb3X

— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 7, 2024

So now the Saints will have to wait 36 days until the start of free agency to see whether Hawthorn did in fact lift their offer.

St Kilda sources on Thursday were very confident they would secure that top 10 pick but as of yet there is no confirmation that the Hawks matched that deal.

Ben McKay left North Melbourne for Essendon and accepted a lesser deal to the Hawks long-term offer last year but just scraped into first-round compensation as the Roos secured a top five pick in return.

Hawthorn’s player acquisition manager Jarryd Roughead and football boss Rob McCartney were instrumental in helping land the deal in recent days as Battle wrestled with the decision.

The Herald Sun reported early this year Hawks legend Roughead, formerly in St Kilda’s recruiting team, had a bonus scheme if he landed big-name recruits.

Hawthorn has already secured the commitment of West Coast’s Tom Barrass to play full back next year.

Battle confirmed the decision on Thursday and said he has loved his time at St Kilda.

“I came to this club while I was still in high school and couldn’t have asked for a better place to grow, both as a footballer and a person,” Battle said.

“I now have a young family of my own, and in planning for our future I’ve come to the difficult decision to move on from my time at the Saints.

“The club has been fantastic throughout this entire process and I leave so grateful for the support they’ve shown both my family and I.

“I’d like to thank all my teammates, coaches and staff who have made my time at the Saints so special, as well as the Saints fans who embraced me from day one.”

Originally published as St Kilda defender Josh Battle to join Hawthorn as free agent