St Kilda have recorded a huge win on a busy first morning of AFL free agency.
Several players found new homes when paperwork was lodged, with Saints defender Josh Battle securing his move to Hawthorn on a six-year deal with a reported $850,000 annual wage.
The contract was sizeable enough for the AFL to gift a top compensation pick to St Kilda — meaning they will hold picks No.7 and No.8 in what is projected to be a deep draft next month.
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Battle, 26, has been an important defender for the Saints in recent years and finished third in their best-and-fairest voting this week, an awkward result after being told not to attend the awards night.
Where the compensation would fall was up in the air and took on a renewed focus when St Kilda president Andrew Bassat blasted the AFL draft system during his address on the same night.
With the speech fresh in their minds, fans described the compensation decision as “criminal” and a “shambles”.
“Pays to sook at your B&F. Won’t be sooking now about the system?” one said, while another wrote: “That’s maddening, sooked because they can’t get their own way.”
One wrote: “St Kilda should invite Josh Battle to their B&F for the rest of his life for getting them pick No.8.”
Compensation has long been a lightning rod for criticism, with the Saints becoming the latest to benefit from a mid-20s defender taking up a lucrative contract with a rival club.
Melbourne famously capitalised when James Frawley made his long-expected move to Hawthorn in 2014.
The Dees already held pick No.2 in the draft and received pick No.3 for losing Frawley, allowing the club to pick future premiership midfielders Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw together.
North Melbourne similarly held picks No.2 and No.3 entering last year’s draft after Ben McKay left for Essendon following months of speculation.
Days after ordering Battle to stay away from their awards night, St Kilda issued a brief farewell statement on Friday.
“We wish Josh Battle and his young family all the best for their next chapter at Hawthorn,” the Saints wrote.
“We have received a first-round compensation pick (currently pick 8) following Josh’s departure as an unrestricted free agent.”
Hawthorn said they were “thrilled to finally welcome” Battle to the club.
“Josh is someone we identified as a key acquisition for our club, and we’re delighted he’s chosen the Hawks in this next phase of his career,” list boss Mark McKenzie said.
“With more than eight seasons of at the top level, Josh is a proven player who will make an immediate impact in our back six, whilst improving our team on a whole.
“Along with his talents, Josh is a high calibre person who will positively influence the direction of our club going forward.”
Elsewhere to open free agency, Isaac Cumming and Harry Perryman secured their moves out of GWS to Adelaide and Collingwood respectively.
The Giants will receive compensation picks in return but neither have been revealed as yet.
Nick Haynes also left the Giants to join Carlton on a one-year deal while Elliott Himmelberg moved on from the Crows to join Gold Coast.
Veteran ruckman Tom Campbell has joined Melbourne following the end of his time at St Kilda.