By JARROD POTTER
TAKING his football to the peak of the junior ranks, Dandenong Stingray Josh Battle has worked his way into an illustrious 2016 draft-prospect program.
Battle, 16, from Berwick has split his time between the Dandenong Stingrays, Haileybury College and Doveton Football Club this year and will soon add another side to an already jam-packed schedule – the AFL Academy.
It makes for a power-packed 2016 as the 190cm (and growing) forward prospect has impressed throughout his time in the junior system.
When Josh found out he was set to head to America for a high-performance training camp later this year, it proved a satisfying end to a turbulent 2014 performance.
“It was pretty good Henry (Paul Henriksen) the Vic Country coach called me and said congratulations you’re part of the AFL Academy – I was pretty stoked,” Battle said.
“I wasn’t part of the academy this year as in the Vic Country game last year I did my hamstring in the last game, so it was good to get in there… Blacky (Craig Black) told me I was close and just had to keep working hard.”
He’s learning off the best at Haileybury, with Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd helping him assert his forward line presence and kick truly in front of goals, while the TAC Cup system also hones his skills as a prime target in the Dandenong forward-50.
Given the plethora of achievements so far – with Vic Country and AFL Academy selections – Battle looks back fondly on his local performance, his senior debut for Doveton this year playing for the same club as his father and brother.
“Playing for Doveton obviously because that’s where my dad – Tony Battle – grew up and played… so that was pretty good,” Battle said.
“I was a bit shattered I didn’t get to play with my brother Nick, but he broke his hand so what can you do?”
Battle isn’t just an elite junior football prospect though, with cricket also keen to get him into the state ranks, but he went with his gut and chose the life chasing the red leather rather than bowling or batting against it.
“Getting invited to try out with Cricket Victoria – I didn’t really go because as soon as I found out I had made the academy then I was going to give cricket away,” Battle said.
“I always loved footy, but when I started going well at cricket it was a pretty hard decision – cricket was opening up – but then I just sat down with my dad and he said “do what you really love” and I chose footy.”
Myles Poholke has also been selected for the Academy in the Level Two squad while under-age Stingrays Aaron Darling, Hunter Clark, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Oscar Clavarino were picked for the Level One squad.
Dandenong Stingrays’ coach Craig Black thought Battle AFL Academy selection showed just how capable he is as a footballer and how valuable it is to have him slot back into the TAC Cup side approaching finals.
“I think Josh’s games when he’s played for us this year – only played about four or five games this year – every game he’s played he put his best foot forward,” Black said.
“Great hands, kicks it well and we’re excited to have him back in our side.
“It’s great reward for these guys that work hard to get to go to the AFL Academy.”
Battle wanted to thank his family for their support in his football ambitions.
Battle and Poholke are on Stingrays duties at the moment as the side heads towards finals and he hopes the side can keep pushing towards the apex of junior football – the TAC Cup grand final.
“Hopefully just finish the year off well,” Battle said.
“Just want to play a good brand of footy and come finals… hopefully if we work tighter as a team the rest will take care of itself and we’ll get to play off in a grand final.
