Hawthorn AFL player Josh Battle and his wife, Casey, have announced the loss of their unborn baby. The couple shared a poignant beach farewell with their two daughters, releasing balloons with messages for their child, just days before Battle is set to play in the team's preliminary final.
Casey Battle shared the news on Instagram Sunday night, posting photos from the ceremony alongside images of her pregnancy. One balloon was marked "Baby Battle" with a heart, while another carried the message, "I love you Belle." She wrote, "There are some moments that change you forever. A little life that left the biggest imprint on our hearts. Until we meet again, our beautiful baby."
The announcement drew messages of support from Battle's Hawthorn teammates, including Jack Ginnivan and Massimo D’Ambrosio, as well as other figures in the Australian Football League community. Former AFLW player and Channel Seven presenter Abbey Holmes also sent her condolences.
Battle, 28, had spoken to reporters on Saturday following Hawthorn training, discussing the team's ambition to reach its first Grand Final since 2015. The team is preparing to face Brisbane in the preliminary final on Saturday at the MCG. Last season, Hawthorn was eliminated in the preliminary final round.
"That was obviously disappointing. We had a really good season but then let ourselves down in the prelim," Battle had said. "We’re confident within the group that when we play our best footy we can match it against anyone. At our best, we’re really hard to play against."
Hawthorn secured its spot in the preliminary final with a victory over Fremantle in the qualifying final, earning a week's break before facing Brisbane. This marks the team's third consecutive finals appearance under coach Sam Mitchell. Battle noted the value of his experience from last year's finals campaign, stating, "Finals footy is really hot, really contested, so having a taste of it last year will hold us in good stead going forward."