School is finally out for Josh Battle.
After juggling his final year of study with his first year of senior football, the time has finally come to leave his Haileybury College uniform and his books behind.
Now, the budding forward will be at the club on a full-time basis, focused on adding to his one game of senior experience.
“I finished my exams two weeks ago, so it’s definitely good to have school out of the way now,” Battle told saints.com.au on Wednesday afternoon.
“Now that school is out of the way now I can just focus more on footy and focus on getting stronger in the gym, fitter and improving my footy all round.
“Last year we had our workloads managed a bit, but this year I think we will be thrown into the deep end a bit more which will be good.”
Battle, who was selected with pick No. 39 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, said his brief glimpse into the game at the highest level is driving him to see much more of it in the future.
“Last year was a pretty phenomenal experience,” Battle said of his debut against Essendon in Round 17.
“It was disappointing we got beaten, but it was great to see what it’s all about and play that one game.
“Leading into next season now,
The 193 cm spearhead has started his second pre-season impressively and is working closely with another key spearhead in St Kilda’s future, Paddy McCartin.
“Paddy has been really good for me so far.
“He’s helped me so much so far and he’s got himself in great shape already so I think he’ll have a pretty good year next year.”
