‘Be wary of what you’re buying’: Eagle pursuit cautioned amid Vic rival’s two-fold assault

As Hawthorn pursues defending pair Tom Barrass and Josh Battle ahead of this year’s player movement period, a two-time premiership player believes one is a level above the other, urging the Hawks to “be wary of what you’re buying”.

Fox Footy analyst David King is ‘holding’ on declaring Barrass a stellar acquisition due to a reliance on his star teammate, instead voicing his preference for St Kilda’s impending free agent.

The Hawks’ desire to attain both Barrass and Battle is well-documented — with the potential Barrass buy requiring a costly trade — but the former North Melbourne flag-winner has a higher opinion of the Saints’ interceptor.

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“I’m a massive Josh Battle fan. I think he’s the perfect defender in a lot of ways, and I think he’d be a great acquisition — (but) I’m a bit of a hold on Tom Barrass,” King told Fox Footy’s First Crack Preview on Thursday evening.

“I think when you look at the work of Jeremy McGovern around him (Barrass), beside him, behind him, he covers for so many flaws in their make-up as a team, and in their make-up as a back six, and I think he helps Tom Barrass more than any other player in that line-up.

“If you really have a drill-down on his numbers, yes, he’s elite for spoils — his ability to get a spoil in is terrific — (but) I’m not overpaying for a one-on-one spoiler.”

Battle has averaged more marks per game this season (7.6) than Barrass (6.8), but the Eagles stopper has managed a better intercepts-per-game clip (7.7) than his St Kilda counterpart (6.9).

King referenced Barrass’ shortcomings in contests, as well as a tendency to leak goals to his direct opponent.

“He loses too many one-on-ones (in my opinion); he loses one in three — the AFL average is one in four,” King continued.

“But when you talk about this level of acquisition and this (trade) cost, this investment, you need better than that.

“Eight intercepts is above average, four intercept marks, terrific, (but) he’s had 39 goals kicked on him this year — it’s a lot of goals.

“(Charlie) Dixon, (Aaron) Naughton, (Mykelti) Lefau, and (Tim) Membrey all kicked three or more, so just be wary of what you’re buying here.

“I think Battle’s the acquisition I’m charging at, not necessarily Barrass.”

St Kilda great Leigh Montagna emphasised the importance of Hawthorn acquiring both instead of just one, stating: “It’s a massive difference if they get both — that is significant.”

Concluding, King said Battle had the potential to be a focal point of a “premiership jigsaw” but questioned the wider football public’s fawning over Barrass.

“I think, if you’re looking at the premiership jigsaw, cornerpieces in any jigsaw are the prime pieces, and I think that Battle can be one of those,” he said.

“They (Hawthorn) have got (Sam) Frost and they’ve used (Josh) Weddle in those roles, (but) they’re just a fraction undersized and a fraction off. I think that Battle could do that role.

“And Barrass could be a good acquisition, but I’m not quite sure he’s at the level that people are talking about, and he’s almost 29 years of age.”

Unlike Barrass — who has three years remaining on his current West Coast contract — Battle is an unrestricted free agent, meaning he can walk to Waverley Park without any St Kilda resistance.