Certified Legendary Thread Nathan Freeman Updates

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aussierulesrules

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Terrific article on Nathan, seems to have a great attitude and perspective on things now. May be what makes the difference for him now.

He's obviously up against it to have a really good career from here, but I haven't given up on him playing and contributing for us, as it's entirely possible that the scar tissue had been gradually building up since his last op, and had just gotten to the stage where it needed to be removed, but now that that's hopefully happened, he may get a relatively free run at it until it builds up again (perhaps over the next 2-3 years).

Given what he showed he was capable of last year once he got going, I don't really see why he won't be able to go at least as well this year, if he has a good run at it for the rest of the year- as he'd have the confidence from how well he was going by the end last year, and he sounds like he's done a lot of work over the preseason and again now, so hopefully that fitness base will also help him to go better this year.

Really wish him a good go at it from here. At the very least for a year or two.

Feel like we just need to get him to the starting line and to play a few games. If we do then it will be a huge load off him and it will completely change the narrative, as it will no longer be "will he ever play a game", and he will just be like everyone else in the AFL playing senior footy.
 
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I'd hate to see us get rid of him. what's one spot on the list? so we can take a kid with a late pick and delist him in a few years?

too much talent to not persist with
Yep potentially even rookie pick at least. Usually a slow death that route tho... Freeman is a slightly special case tho.
 
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I'd hate to see us get rid of him. what's one spot on the list? so we can take a kid with a late pick and delist him in a few years?

too much talent to not persist with
My list of players i'd like to see de-listed before Freeman (22yo) includes.
Gilbert, Brown, Wright (24yo) , Minchington (24yo), Pierce (23yo).
Possibly Armitage and McKenzie as well, ( let you know by the end of the season ).

How much footy did Sam Fisher play while he was concentrating on his golf career as a junior? Freeman has already proven he has an ability to come back in the VFL level and impact games.
 

sammm

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I'd hate to see us get rid of him. what's one spot on the list? so we can take a kid with a late pick and delist him in a few years?

too much talent to not persist with

there have been a number of instances from various clubs where players have stayed on the books for many years in injured before getting a game.
 

Verdun66

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From another sport. Patrick Cummins had a fantastic start to his Test career at 18 years of age. They then had to wait 5 years for him to play consistently again. He had stress fractures, and they just had to wait for his body to mature and strengthen. He has just had an unbelievable few months in the Test side. I thought he was never playing again to be honest.
 
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