Sturt captain James Battersby has sensationally quit the club ahead of Sunday’s SANFL grand final against Glenelg.
The 29-year-old, a long-serving skipper and dual premiership player, was devastated when told he wasn’t part of the league team and chose not to play in last weekend’s reserves preliminary final.
Tuesday’s SANFL grand final media call was already heavy with sentiment following the death of SA football legend Max Basheer, and revelations of Battersby’s departure have made it a grand final week like no other.
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“It is heartbreaking, it’s tough,” Sturt coach Marty Mattner said.
“We wanted him to keep playing, to give himself an opportunity to play in the grand final if something happens with the player and be available.
“I guess where he’s at with his knee and his body, he just felt like that was the best option for him, so he decided to step away.”
Meanwhile, retired Glenelg defender Max Proud remains in hospital with broken ribs and a punctured lung suffered in Sunday’s preliminary final win over Norwood.
The Tigers will use his absence as motivation as they chase premiership glory in both the league and reserves on Sunday.
“100 per cent,” Glenelg coach Darren Reeves said.
“If we can have a player in each of our teams in both games go out and play with a bit of Max Proud in them, we’ll be in a good place,” a Glenelg representative said.
Sunday’s grand final coverage starts at 2pm on Channel 7 in Adelaide and 7plus Sport.
Stream free on
