St Kilda’s AFL compensation for losing Josh Battle has sparked a cheeky remark from Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie, who suggested that Saints president Andrew Bassat’s recent comments were “well timed.”
Mackie raised his eyebrows when the Saints received draft pick No. 8 after Battle moved to Hawthorn as a free agent. Similarly, Harry Perryman’s switch from GWS to Adelaide awarded the Giants the No. 16 pick, pushing Geelong down from 15th to 17th in the draft order.
These compensations followed Bassat’s sharp criticism of the AFL draft system at St Kilda’s best-and-fairest event last week, where he labeled it “rubbish.”
Speaking at the start of the AFL trade period on Monday, Mackie remarked that the compensations “felt generous” and added, “Andrew Bassat would be feeling pretty good about things; his speech was strategically well timed.”
Unsurprisingly, Saints football boss Dave Misson also backed the compensation for Josh Battle, describing it as “fair and reasonable” on Monday.
Misson praised Saints president Andrew Bassat’s recent speech, saying, “I loved that the leader of our club stood up for our club.”
He acknowledged the club’s past mistakes, referencing Bassat’s remarks: “As a club, we acknowledge that we’ve probably been our own worst enemy for a long time.”
Misson emphasized the importance of standing up for the club: “But we must stand up for ourselves as a club … as well as getting our own house in order. So, we in the football department loved that our leader took a stand.”
While the Saints are aiming to trade for Port Adelaide ruckman Ivan Soldo, their main focus remains the draft.
“We’re focusing on two really strong drafts, possibly three. History shows you need at least four solid drafts to start building a team capable of reaching the final four,” Misson said.
“So, we’re approaching another important drafting period with a lot of confidence.”
Misson also expressed faith in the Saints’ list management and recruiting team, emphasizing their capability during this critical phase.
On Sunday, the Saints secured key forward Max King with a six-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the end of 2032.
“It’s a fantastic outcome for the club and Max, showing mutual belief in each other,” Misson added.