AFL world rallies around Hawthorn star Josh Battle and wife Casey after miscarriage heartbreak

Hawthorn and the AFL community are rallying around star defender Josh Battle and wife Casey on the eve of the team’s preliminary final as the couple mourns the loss of an unborn child.

Casey shared the heartbreaking news on Sunday night alongside images from the pregnancy and their farewell to the baby.

The couple and their two daughters visited a beach together to release a balloon decorated with drawings and messages.

“A tiny life, a love that will last forever,” Casey wrote on her post.

“There are some moments that change you forever. A little life that left the biggest imprint on our hearts.

Battle’s Hawks teammates Jack Ginnivan and Massimo D’Ambrosio supported the couple alongside the wives and partners of several AFL players, including Indiana Putra (Jeremy Cameron), Monique Cripps (Patrick), Tayla Broad (Nathan), Chloe Pink (Toby) and Alexandra Merrett (Zach).

“Love you all very much,” wrote Channel 7’s Abbey Holmes, the wife of Hawthorn AFLW general manager Keegan Brooksby.

Battle had only just fronted up for a press conference after training on Saturday to speak on the Hawks’ hopes of winning through to the grand final.

The 28-year-old spoke before reigning premiers Brisbane defeated Adelaide to book their MCG preliminary final date with Hawthorn.

“That was obviously disappointing. We had a really good season but then let ourselves down in the prelim,” Battle 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 have not featured in a grand final since the end of the Alastair Clarkson-led dynasty in 2015, and only Jack Gunston remains from that premiership team.

Sam Mitchell’s new era of Hawks are in their third consecutive finals campaign under the four-time flag hero, and Battle believes the growing experience will serve them well.

“Finals footy is really hot, really contested, so having a taste of it last year will hold us in good stead going forward,” the former St Kilda defender said.