St Kilda draftee Josh Battle may have stepped into a man’s world in recent months, but he will still spend a couple of days each week as a schoolboy while he completes Year 12 at Haileybury College.
The highly rated key forward still has three subjects to tick off in 2017 and will juggle his study with his new life at Linen House Centre, where he has made an impressive start to his career at the Saints.
Now ten weeks into his time in the AFL system, Battle admits the elevation in intensity and demands has been ‘massive’, emphasising how important recovery is to get up for the next training session in order to train at the required standard.
“It’s been a massive step. I think last week was the most brutal session I’ve ever done in my life,” Battle told saints.com.au on Tuesday.
“It was pretty hectic but good once we got through it and you could look back on it and be satisfied with doing a brutal session like that.
“I think recovery is something that I’ve really learnt here how important and vital it is to get up for the next session.
“Obviously it’s footy and not school so I spring up out of bed each morning and head down here so I’m loving my time so far.”
Through the support of the player welfare team – Tony Brown and Andrea Farrow – and in conjunction with the school, Battle has coordinated a timetable that fits around his football schedule and is confident he can juggle the two in his debut season.
“‘Browny’ and the guys here have worked closely with the school to work out a plan. I think because I’ve got Andy [Farrow] and ‘Browny’ there to help me with my planning, which I’m really grateful for, I should be able to do both well,” Battle said.
Ahead of the Saints’ intra-club match at Trevor Barker Oval on Thursday night, Battle says St Kilda leader Mav Weller has had a profound impact on his development during his first few months at the club.
“Mav Weller has been mentoring me a lot and I’ve become pretty close with Mav,” he said.
“Before and after each session he’ll check in with me and go through what I’m doing well and what I need to improve on. I couldn’t thank Mav enough for what he’s helped me with so far.”
