AFL contract news: Compensation fight brewing in St Kilda’s final contract pitch to Josh Battle

St Kilda is preparing a bumper final offer to Josh Battle, but the deal isn’t entirely about keeping the defender in red, white, and black, write JON RALPH and JAY CLARK.

St Kilda hopes to pitch a final offer to Josh Battle that either sees it secure first-round compensation or retain its star defender as a decision draws closer on his future.

Hawthorn is increasingly confident it will secure the intercept defender after a positive meeting with coach Sam Mitchell as the Hawks mount a charge for three star defenders.

Hawthorn will offer Battle six years of tenure, but the key issue is whether their financial offer will hit the trigger for first-round compensation.

St Kilda is pessimistic that the Hawthorn deal – likely to be around $800,000-$850,000 – will be enough to secure them first-round compensation behind their first pick.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 04: Josh Battle of the Saints handballs during the round 21 AFL match between St Kilda Saints and Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium, on August 04, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The Herald Sun understands that any free agency contracts would need to hit at least $900,000 per season to trigger first-round compensation after two significant pay rises for players in the past 12 months.

Last year North Melbourne secured first-round compensation for departing free agent Ben McKay for a deal with guaranteed money of less than $800,000 a season.

The AFL industry expects Eagles intercept defender Tom Barrass will join the Hawks on a four-year deal with a fifth-year trigger, with Hawthorn having picks 12 and 29 to get a deal done.

The Hawks would be willing to offer up pick 12 to the Eagles for Barrass, who could then hand that pick onto Richmond to lock in a trade for Liam Baker.

Battle is an unrestricted free agent who is weighing up a move, while the Hawks are fighting Port Adelaide for the services of GWS running defender Harry Perryman.

Hawthorn is already seen to be in premiership contention so to secure both Barrass and Battle would turbocharge their flag aspirations given both are ready-made defenders at the peak of their careers.

While Battle has a strong relationship with coach Ross Lyon he is being lured by the promise of a premiership window and being coached by Mitchell.

St Kilda is preparing a bumper off to defender Josh Battle. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

St Kilda’s first pick No. 6 in the national draft, and securing picks six and seven would clearly soften the blow of his departure.

St Kilda will continue to fight for him and with ample salary cap would love to know the scope of Hawthorn’s offer.

Then it can either drive up his price or offer him a counter deal to keep him at the club if the compensation is at the end of the first round.

Last year’s North Melbourne end-of-first-round compensation pick ended up pushing back to pick 29 (Ashton Moir).

So losing Battle for a pick in the late 20s would be disastrous for St Kilda’s list build, but as an unrestricted free agent they cannot match a bid or force a trade.

To assess free agency compensation the AFL lines up all deals from players over 25 years of age and if the new deal falls in the top five per cent of contracts it qualifies for first-round compensation.

This year the AFL will consider the contract length as part of that free agency formula, with a six-year deal clearly helping St Kilda’s cause.