AFL free agency: All the news and talking points from day one

Fans have questioned the merits of AFL free agency compensation after it delivered three first-round draft picks — including two to GWS Giants. Recap every day one talking point.

New Hawthorn recruit Josh Battle Pictures: Hawthorn FC

St Kilda and Greater Western Sydney strengthened their first-round draft hands after losing Josh Battle and Harry Perryman to Hawthorn and Collingwood respectively, as six players switched clubs on the opening day of the AFL free agency period.

The Saints will have access to two picks inside the top 10 of next month’s national draft – picks seven and eight as they stand now – after unrestricted free agent Battle landed at the Hawks, the club he barracked for as a kid.

Others to find new homes on Friday were Isaac Cumming (Adelaide), Nick Haynes (Carlton), Elliott Himmelberg (Gold Coast) and Tom Campbell (Melbourne) also found new homes.

Battle’s move to the Hawks delivered the key defender that coach Sam Mitchell has been chasing, with West Coast’s Tom Barrass likely to also join the club during next week’s trade period.

While Saints president Andrew Bassat lashed out at the AFL’s draft inequalities during the week, St Kilda would have been delighted to get a Band 1 compensation pick for 26-year-old Battle.

Josh Battle in his new colours. Picture: Hawthorn FC

Some rival clubs privately questioned the AFL’s formula for deciding on compensation picks.

The move delivered the Saints an appetising high-end hand in the national draft, with pick eight added as part of the compensation to add to selections seven and 25 they already hold.

Ross Lyon and the Saints’ list management team could look to restock with three potential young stars, or potentially use the compensation pick eight to swap or split with rival clubs.

The Saints were under fire earlier this week for telling 26-year-old Battle not to attend the club’s best and fairest.

Hawthorn list boss Mark McKenzie said the club was delighted to secure Battle, who had formed a close link in recent meetings with Mitchell.

Hawks player acquisition manager Jarryd Roughead, who was previously at St Kilda, also played a big part in luring Battle to Waverley.

“We’re thrilled to finally welcome Josh, his partner Casey, and children Bobbi and Billie to the Hawks,” McKenzie said.

“Josh is someone we identified as a key acquisition for our club, and we’re delighted he’s chosen the Hawks in this next phase of his career.

“With more than eight seasons at the top level, Josh is a proven player who will make an immediate impact in our back six, while improving our team on a whole.

“Along with his talents, Josh is a high calibre person who will positively influence the direction of our club going forward.”

Harry Perryman in Collingwood colours after joining as a free agent.

Like Battle, Perryman, 25, has joined the club he supported as a kid on a six-year-deal, excited by the prospect of helping the Magpies through the middle and in defence.

While the Giants did not want to lose Perryman, the fact they have received Band 1 compensation will mean their draft hand gets even stronger.

Both Battle and Perryman were signed on long-term, big-money deals, with the AFL’s formula dictating they were worth Band 1 compensation, giving their original clubs a pick after their current first-round pick.

That has pushed other clubs’ picks further down the board.

There were no compensation picks for the former clubs of Haynes, Himmelberg and Campbell, while the Giants received pick 21 as compensation for Cumming, giving them pick 15, 16 and 21 in the first round of the draft.

WHAT YOU SAID

GWS will receive what are currently Pick 16 & Pick 21 for Harry Perryman & Isaac Cumming, who were both unrestricted free agents.

Compensation is utter buffoonery at this point. https://t.co/tURzLJB0TS

— Carlton News & Stats (@UptheBaggers) October 4, 2024

Pick 16 for Harry Perryman. World has gone mad https://t.co/rhqgGLVkov

— Al Paton (@al_superfooty) October 4, 2024

AFL maths be like

Josh Battle = Pick 8
Harry Perryman = Pick 16
Buddy Franklin = Pick 19

🤪

— Claxy07 (@jason7clarke) October 4, 2024

Battle pick 8, Perryman pick 16. This is exactly why Houston is worth 2 first rounders #AFLTrade

— WhiteboardKing (@WhiteboardKing) October 4, 2024