Josh Battle to Join Hawthorn as a Free Agent

Josh Battle, a 25-year-old unrestricted free agent, has expressed his intention to transfer to Hawthorn Football Club.

On Thursday afternoon, Battle informed the St Kilda Football Club of his decision to exercise his free agency rights, marking a significant change in his career trajectory.

Having taken time to evaluate his future, Battle chose to seek a new beginning at Waverley Park.

Hawthorn’s head coach, Sam Mitchell, and new player acquisition manager, Jarryd Roughead, have been instrumental in influencing Battle’s decision to join them.

He is anticipated to sign a lucrative six-year contract that will extend until 2031.

Battle, a product of Haileybury College, has played a total of 123 games in his first eight seasons in the AFL, after being selected at pick No.39 in the 2016 AFL Draft.

Reflecting on his time at St Kilda, Battle stated, “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.”

He continued, “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.”

Battle also expressed gratitude to his teammates, coaches, and fans for making his tenure at St Kilda memorable.

Drafted originally as a key forward, St Kilda developed him into a mobile defender.

With the addition of Battle, along with another key player, Hawthorn is making significant moves ahead of the trade period, aiming to strengthen their squad further.