St Kilda has an embarrassment of forward line riches after drafting Josh Battle
THE days of Nick Riewoldt or bust are over for St Kilda. After selecting Josh Battle in Friday’s draft, the Saints have one of the strongest forward lines in the game.
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ONCE for St Kilda it was Nick Riewoldt or bust.
For a decade he was St Kilda’s towering presence as a key forward who got it done time and again.
Now after securing a lethal finishing 192cm forward compared to Jack Gunston in Josh Battle, the Saints have an embarrassment of offensive riches.
St Kilda believes it added the outside speed needed in Michael Long’s nephew, Ben, as well as draft drifter Battle at the value selection of 39.
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With Riewoldt still going strong, the Saints have Tim Membrey, Patrick McCartin, Josh Bruce and Battle to compete for forward-line spots.
St Kilda recruiting boss Tony Elshaug agreed the competition for a game was on in earnest in St Kilda’s attacking 50 after Battle kicked 11 goals in four games this year for Vic Country.
He finished at an accuracy rate of 69 per cent all year, also adding 24.13 in the TAC Cup with elite running skills to boot.
“With Josh, Bruce, Paddy McCartin and Tim Membrey, to have someone 18 years of age coming up under those guys, he is an elite runner and knows where the goals are and is a great shot for goal, so we are pleased he got through to that part of the draft,” Elshaug said.
“We are pleased we have got some options and we have an 18-year-old, a 20-year-old, a 22-year-old, and a 24-year-old with Josh so it holds us in good stead.
“We know we will have some injuries from time to time and it’s good to have some competition.”
Exciting Northern Territory forward Long did it all this year, wowing recruiters with his silky skills and versatile nature.
“He played well in the national championships for NT and was captain, he went on and played with the Allies and had an outstanding game on young (small forward) Ben Ainsworth and then stepped up for Footscray in the VFL at the other end of the ground. He is the real deal,’’ Elshaug said.
“We like his versatility and aggression and we are really pleased to have him on board.”
With Michael Long’s son, Jake, still at Essendon, the bloodlines of a famous football family continue to flow.
“His mum and dad are good people and Ben went to Melbourne Grammar for the last three years,’’ Elshaug said.
“He did well to get through Year 12 and come down and live here and they are all things that show a lot of resilience growing up as a person and we are excited about that.”
St Kilda is stocked with two first-round picks at next year’s draft after a trade swap with Hawthorn and the time to consider its options.
That might include a monster trade request for a big name midfielder or just taking more quality kids if the youngsters keep up their rapid improvement.
“We have got options, we will see what opportunities are there all around and do what is best based on what next season serves up,” Elshaug said.
Originally published as St Kilda has an embarrassment of forward line riches after drafting Josh Battle
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