Past Player - James Battersby

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http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/james-battersby

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Position: Small midfielder/defender/forward
Height: 177cm
Weight: 78kg
Born: 7/11/95
Home club: Sturt
Small defender/midfielder with excellent vision and use of the ball by hand and foot. Has already played at senior level with Sturt, where his great assets included composure and game sense. Capped off an outstanding Under-18 Championships by winning All-Australian honours.
 
Jcpdragonx said:
Nice pick up. Pembroke huh... must be fairly well off.
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Are you serious? You don't choose Pembroke if you are well off!!!

Really like the pick. Staggered he was available at 24, but great work by our recruiters. This kid could be a really good choice and wouldn't surprise me at all to see him make it.
 
DJ75 said:
Are you serious? You don't choose Pembroke if you are well off!!!

Really like the pick. Staggered he was available at 24, but great work by our recruiters. This kid could be a really good choice and wouldn't surprise me at all to see him make it.
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I know very little about him other than he's very small, has great skills and game sense, and isn't that fast.

Could he be a younger version of Callinan? Or is he nowhere near that good?
 

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Paige's article on Battersby, where he was touted to go 18-30 in the ND.

http://www.scpaige.com.au/draftess-in-focus-james-battersby/

Battersby is strong, athletic and relishes the contested ball. In his appearances for Sturt at SANFL level this year, he has returned some very impressive numbers, but it was during the National Championships on the big stage, where he really made his name. Although a midfielder for Sturt, Battersby plied his trade for SA off the half back flank, where his run and carry, clean ball use, elite awareness and vision, and a knack to take plenty of intercept marks was a large reason why SA went on to win the National Championships. His drive and creativity under pressure, ultimately won him All Australian selection.
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I uploaded this to the general rookie thread yesterday when it was touted that the Crows would get Battersby. I'll post it again here for convenience. Battersby played some super games for Sturt in the seniors this year, and as you can see his foot skills are amazing. Played as a clearance specialist and half-forward for Sturt but overall he's just a natural footballer who knows how to get it and how to use it. Great pick up as a rookie, and when you consider that most of the top 30 picks in the National Draft haven't even played serious footy against men yet, to see a guy like this slide to us at #24 in the Rookie draft is astounding! Once again recruiters undervalue footy smarts and overvalue speed and height.

battersby sanfl stats.jpg
 
Harold Larwood said:
I uploaded this to the general rookie thread yesterday when it was touted that the Crows would get Battersby. I'll post it again here for convenience. Battersby played some super games for Sturt in the seniors this year, and as you can see his foot skills are amazing. Played as a clearance specialist and half-forward for Sturt but overall he's just a natural footballer who knows how to get it and how to use it. Great pick up as a rookie, and when you consider that most of the top 30 picks in the National Draft haven't even played serious footy against men yet, to see a guy like this slide to us at #24 in the Rookie draft is astounding! Once again recruiters undervalue footy smarts and overvalue speed and height.

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I want to gush over this again. Averaging 19 disposals while never wasting more than 4 possessions in a single game is exceptional.

No idea how he'll go finding the ball at AFL level, but damn, the kid knows how to use it.
 
Crow-eater said:
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Aside from being a very composed and natural-looking footballer, I f***ing loved that hardball get at 0:24.

Edit: he also has a pretty chunky body for a kid his age - already looks AFL ready which would go some way to explaining his excellent SANFL form.
 
Really happy we got Battersby. It's insane he fell this far in the draft. Does anybody have any idea why he wasn't picked up in the ND? I can't see any glaring faults in his game. He's got good size, good awareness and kicks accurately. What am I missing here?
 
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