Delisted Nathan Freeman

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St Kilda’s Nathan Freeman will finally make his long-awaited debut on Saturday night against the Western Bulldogs.

423 players have made their AFL debuts since the 23-year-old was taken by Collingwood with pick No. 10 in the 2013 National Draft.

Freeman suffered a season-ending hamstring tear in his first pre-season match for the Magpies in 2014, unfortunately an omen of what was to come.


A well-chronicled series of setbacks, notably unrelenting hamstring issues, have plagued the midfielder before an AC joint injury interrupted his VFL comeback this season.

‘Freeza’ has averaged almost 25 possessions and 4.4 tackles per game in seven games, but it was his 37-disposal haul last weekend that convinced the match committee that he was ready.

When Nathan Freeman runs out in the famous red, white and black stripes on Saturday night, it will be his 1,718th day as an AFL-listed player, becoming the 1596th player to represent the Saints at the highest level.


Go Saints
 
It was a moment five long years in the making.

After watching teammate after teammate realise their dreams of an AFL debut, finally his turn had come.

Nathan Freeman exudes enthusiasm.


He wears a permanent smile, and even through the most trialling setbacks, has remained the same positive ball of energy that first came through the doors at St Kilda.

But on Thursday afternoon, the boy from Cheltenham was different, nervous; match committee had commenced.

Waiting for either the coach’s backing or sympathetic condolences is a weekly ritual for footballers across the country.

But it’s something Freeman has rarely known.

READ: Freeman to debut

The former top 10 draft pick was a standout junior, an explosive midfielder who carved a swath through opposition teams at TAC Cup level.

But his AFL career reads more like a washed-up rock star’s autobiography, with vastly more time spent in rehab than performing on the big stage.

Persistent hamstring injuries, beginning with a torn tendon 40 minutes into his first pre-season match at the start of 2014, have plagued his budding career, restricting to him to little more than 20 games of VFL over five years.

Fellow 2013 draftee Jack Billings has played 81 AFL games in the same period, while Freeman’s stats tell a slightly different story.

Two surgeries, endless hours of massage and week after lonely week in the gym, this appeared to be the young Saint’s lot.

Twice he has flown to the other side of the world (the second time self-funded) seeking treatment from renowned sports medicine expert Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt in Munich, Germany.

But despite keeping his head down and ticking every box, the chance to fulfil a life-long dream had eluded him.

Until now.

The groundswell from St Kilda supporters began the instant he posted 37 possessions and a goal in his seventh consecutive match for Sandringham.

Surely, the time had come.

The crescendo of external noise had peaked by Thursday afternoon, when the Saints’ match committee met after training to finalise the Round 20 side.

Freeman has often been bemused by this interest in him, almost embarrassed by the attention.

It’s part of his make-up: humble, polite, unassuming.

But his biggest asset by far, the quality he will long be remembered for, is his unshakable resilience.

Dealing with persistent injuries, including a significant shoulder blow this year, has forced the 23-year-old to build a layer of armour well beyond his years.

St Kilda rehab specialist Marcus Krygger estimates that Freeman has spent about 70 percent of his time at the Saints in the rehab group, but he struggles to remember a time when his mate ‘Freeza’ wasn’t attacking his rehab with a smile and dogged determination.

Krygger has been right there with the 23-year-old the whole way, so it was no surprise that the strength and conditioning coach’s nerves increased in tandem with Freeman’s as Thursday wore on.

1:30pm. Finally, the wait was over.

WATCH: Freeza gets the news

As the players gathered for a session with sports psychologist Emma Murray, coach Alan Richardson addressed the group.

Midway through his preamble about what it means to make your AFL debut, the senior coach paused, and interrupted himself.

“… I’m not going to be able to hold it back any longer … Nathan Freeman, you’re in.”

The playing group roared as one, leaping over seats to congratulate their mate.

There were handshakes, hugs and teary eyes.

More than 1,700 days after being drafted, his turn had finally come.


Go Saints
 

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karaoke said:
http://www.saints.com.au/news/2015-10-26/get-to-know-nathan-freeman

Get to know Nathan Freeman

"NATHAN Freeman was an elite junior player who provided spark, leadership and pure class whether he was playing for Cheltenham Panthers, Dingley Dingos, Haileybury College, Sandringham Dragons or Vic Metro.

Freeman’s greatest attribute is his raw speed. It’s what attracted recruiters and scouts in the first place and it is what will be his x-factor at St Kilda."

"Physically, St Kilda’s medical department is supremely confident he will withstand the rigours of a full pre-season and it will not only be Freeman that is the beneficiary of the Saints doctors and physios, it will also be the fans. "
Click to expand...

 
Nathan FREEMAN
VFL stats 2016-2018 Sandringham
VFL stats 2015 Collingwood

Stat | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
\ Totals |
\Games|10|13|4|4
\Bests|0|2|0|0
\1st|0|0|0|0
\2nd|0|0|0|0
\3rd|0|1|0|0
\4th|0|0|0|0
\5th|0|1|0|0
\6th|0|0|0|0
\Goals|2|2|0|0
\Behinds|3|5|0|0
\ Averages ||
\Disposals|23.2|19.2|8.3|15.8
\Kicks|11.1|9.6|4.3|8.8
\Handballs|12.1|9.5|4.0|7.8
\Marks|4.3|3.4|1.8|2.5
\Tackles|3.9|4.3|2.8|3.0
\Clearances|4.0|3.5|N/A|N/A
\Inside 50s|2.1|2.5|0.3|2.0
\Rebound 50s|2.3|1.2|1.8|0.8
\Frees For|0.5|1.1|0.0|1.3
\Frees Against|0.6|0.3|0.3|0.0
\Dream Team|86.20|76.15|36.25|61.50
 
So happy for the young man.
Got through unscathed which was the main thing I wanted to see - but he certainly looked like he belonged out there. Never looked out of place, had a solid outing and look forward to seeing many more.
 
Amid the gloom of St Kilda's deflating loss to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night was one of the best feelgood footy stories of the season.

Nathan Freeman finally made his long-awaited AFL debut and later described it as "a dream", which was apt given it happened 1718 days after he was drafted, in his fifth season and at his second club, after a cursed run of hamstring and other injuries.

And it was a promising debut, too.


The speedy midfielder had 19 possessions on a wing in a team that was beaten comprehensively after quarter-time at Etihad Stadium.

The milestone and the sideshow out the way, Freeman, 23, now hopes to be viewed as simply "a normal footballer".

READ: Freeman: The moment dreams come true

Everything felt abnormal early in the game, though. Freeman is renowned for his speed, but the tempo of the game required the biggest adjustment.

"It was a bit of a blur but good to finally get out there," he told reporters.

"I always knew I had the ability but (when) it's your first game I think anyone would be pretty nervous going into it, whether you've waited five years or six months.

"It was a good experience but it would've been good to get the win."

Saints coach Alan Richardson was simply pleased that Freeman had finally played at the highest level.

"It was a massive week for him. We told him as late as possible, but you can imagine the build-up – five years," Richardson said.

"It was a real step up, so there were times when I'd imagine things were just zipping around him."

Despite Freeman's encouraging showing, Richardson stopped short of guaranteeing him a game against Essendon at the same venue on Friday.

"We'll have to wait and see. We've got a few guys potentially back for selection," he said.

180805-freeza-620.jpg
Nathan Freeman runs out for his AFL debut after five long years

Freeman is focused on finishing the season strongly, which he hoped would earn him a new contract.

"I'll just play and that'll take care of itself," he said.

The way Freeman played against the Dogs, he gave every indication he might well make up for lost time.

And that's a prospect that would loom as a great relief to St Kilda fans, given Freeman – the No. 10 pick by Collingwood in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft – has given a virtual 100-game head start to some of his draft alumni, which includes the likes of Bulldogs premiership star Marcus Bontempelli (101), Giants gun Josh Kelly (96) and Brisbane runner Lewis Taylor (103).

The debut of the pocket rocket in the No.10 guernsey was a big event, and the Saints cheersquad duly paid tribute on the banner:

Here at the Saints
We never stop dreamin'
Anything can happen
Just ask Nathan Freeman

Indeed, much like Sydney's comeback kid Alex Johnson, who was simultaneously making his first AFL appearance in almost six years, Freeman has been an inspiration to his club and the broader football world with his mental toughness, dedication and positivity.

READ: Dogs down Saints

He was also supported by his own personal cheersquad, which included a large contingent of his mates from Dingley and Haileybury College.

"They were a big support. I could actually hear them out there," he chuckled.

Freeman was more nervous travelling to the stadium than he was when he ran onto the field, but naturally there were a few nervous moments, particularly early.

His first touch – a regulation handball backwards in defence after six minutes – was followed by a clanger kick when he shinned a short pass attempt on the wing.

"It was pretty surreal. My head was spinning in the first five minutes, but the boys were good, speaking to me out there and calming me down," Freeman told reporters.

Freeman soon settled, nicely crumbing packs, linking up with handball and kicking well to position.

He also provided plenty of unrewarded running and could have been used more on the outside when he found space. That will presumably come as his teammates become more familiar with him.

As a star junior, Freeman had been likened to West Coast star Luke Shuey and ex-Eagle Daniel Kerr, but against the Bulldogs he more resembled another Nathan, diminutive former Tiger Nathan Foley, with his busy nature and his slightly hunched running style when he carried the ball.

WATCH: 1718 Days

The pacy Saint's best quarter was his team's worst – he had eight touches in the third term despite St Kilda being outscored eight goals to nil, with Bontempelli nailing four.

After having 17 touches in the opening three quarters, Freeman's game petered out with the contest.

Freeman rated his performance as "OK".

"I can't remember too many of my touches. It was just good to get my hands on it and get a few kicks. I hope I didn't stuff up too much," he said.

With his debut finally out of the way, Freeman's primary goal is to make up for lost time on the rest of his draft class and become the footballer his junior potential suggested.


Go Saints
 

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Hamill says -
Nathan Freeman 8 kicks, 6 handballs, 3 marks, 2 tackles

Getting omitted was just another hurdle for ‘Freeza’, he’s probably jumped 100 of them, so why not another? He’s been really good, really strong and positive. He wants to contribute and do the right thing by his mates at VFL level, and he certainly wants to prove not only to himself but to others that he can play at the highest level, so it was just another little hurdle for him. He played wing on the weekend and was serviceable until he got knocked out a minute into the last quarter, so not ideal but hopefully he gets up to play this week. He understands where he’s at and he’s got to earn his spot back.


Go Saints
 
Freeman joined the Saints in the 2015 Trade Period from Collingwood after he was originally selected with pick 10 in the 2013 AFL Draft.

The midfielder battled persistent hamstring injuries in his five years in the AFL system before earning his debut in Round 20 this season.

Now he has been delisted much to my disappointment.


Go Saints
 
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