While the rest of the Saints list walked into Linen House Centre to complete their recovery on Friday morning, first-year key forward Josh Battle was already midway through his first class for the day, just hours after booting five goals in St Kilda’s intra-club.
Battle, St Kilda’s second pick (No. 39) in last November’s National Draft, was one of the standout performers in Thursday night’s intra-club at Trevor Barker Oval, with the 18-year-old spearhead putting his hand up for an opportunity in the JLT Community Series.
The 18-year-old, who will juggle his new life in the AFL with his Year 12 commitments at Haileybury College this year, said he found the increase in intensity and running challenging but took confidence from his performance first up.
“It was very good to get out there and amongst the boys,” Battle told saints.com.au following St Kilda’s intra-club on Thursday night.
“It was pretty hard work, obviously a lot different to TAC footy and the high intensity running, but I loved it.
“I guess you do get a little bit of confidence out of it and I’ll be able to take it in my stride going forward.”
After being eased into the pre-season program before the Christmas interval, Battle said he was exposed to some ‘brutal’ training sessions in January, with the honeymoon period coming to a sharp halt.
“When I first got to the club it wasn’t that hard but straight after Christmas it was brutal, I went through some tough sessions,” Battle said.
“But I’ve really loved it and I definitely feel a lot fitter out here today running around so I’m loving it so far.”
Without peering too far into the distance, the Dandenong Stingrays product is determined to play consistent football in his debut season, regardless of what guernsey he finds himself in.
“I just want to play consistent footy wherever I play. Hopefully I get an opportunity (at AFL level) and then take it with both hands but I’ll just take it one step at a time,” he said.
St Kilda will kick start their JLT Community Series campaign against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium next Thursday night, before facing Carlton and Sydney in the closing two games of the competition.
