Player Watch Nathan Freeman

[the mighty T]

I'm well and truly over any reservations I had about drafting him and am totally on the bandwagon. I must say, the prospect of another Swan type mid is incredibly appealing.. rushed kicking and all! My hope is that he shows a good deal of aggression on the ball, especially in the tackle department.

Getting super enthusiastic about next year!

 

[Temploar]

Picture from today's training session (off the club's twitter);

He's definitely not going to have to build himself up too much to have a "senior body".

H-He's levitating!

 

[motr]

Freeman will play senior footy next year. Already has the speed and endurance and looks to have a strong body as well. All things going to plan, he should be a regular by 2015.

Not should, but definitely a possibility given the top end of his potential and the role he can play.

 

[Jelly Bean]

Anyone confirm his height? I've seen anything from 181-184cm. He has a few too many weaknesses for me for a #10 pick, but at least for a smaller player (though he looks strong and well developed) he has genuinely elite speed, unlike Kennedy. I personally think it means Kennedy ought to be developed as a small forward, as in midfield they play pretty similar roles, but Freeman clearly has better physical tools.

I think freeman will receive more than Kennedy in style. Kennedy is actually best in packs, whereas freeman has a good receiving game. Kennedy out to Freeman to explode away...

 

[TradeDraft]

I think freeman will receive more than Kennedy in style. Kennedy is actually best in packs, whereas freeman has a good receiving game. Kennedy out to Freeman to explode away...

Freeman has also a Great Side Step

 

[jackcass]

Sinclair's been fine down back. People need to give him a break.

Wasn't that bad up forward, generated some fine opportunities, just shanked a few kicks and that's all he's remembered for.

 

[TradeDraft]

Wasn't that bad up forward, generated some fine opportunities, just shanked a few kicks and that's all he's remembered for.

Kicking Goals is what you do as a Forward and Sinclair stuffed up too many he should of Kicked

 

[jackcass]

Kicking Goals is what you do as a Forward and Sinclair stuffed up too many he should of Kicked

Like he's the first or only player to miss a shot on goal... you could say the same about Cloke... all I know is he's kicked a hell of a lot more goals than me at VFL/AFL level.

And I also find it amusing that people on these boards are worried about our lack of a crumbing forward... I'd argue that Sinclair (2013 squad & excluding recent recruits) was the 2nd best crumber at the club behind Krakouer.

 

[SCPaige]

Can i just say - I know Nath well with my work this year, and having him at the club will be a godsend. You need not look further than what he was able to do in games this year, some in particular when the game was in the balance, he single handily turned the momentum. He loves to run and carry and use his speed, but more importantly he takes the game on and loves to bash and crash through his opponents.

Here is what i wrote on him;

COLLINGWOOD
Pick 6:MATTHEW SCHARENBERG (Glenelg, SA) 190cm, 87kg
South Australia’s MVP, Matt Schranberg had long-been linked to the Pies, however Derek Hine would've spent a long-time agonizing whether or not to opt for James Aish. Nonetheless, Scharenberg fills a direct need for the Pies, with the ability to slot right into the position Heath Shaw has made vacant. The Pies don’t have a player like him – he’ll play mostly as a third tall, and his teammates will look upon him to use his precision kicking to release the Pies from defense. Scharenberg is an acceptation talent, blessed with strength overhead, agility, deft touch at ground level and reads the play extremely well. When allowed to play his natural game, Scharenberg loves to attack from defence, and has shown he can push further up the ground onto a wing, and is a threat up forward. Won All Australian honors this year, and has played senior football for Glenelg.
Pick 10: NATHAN FREEMAN (Sandringham Dragons, Vic) 182cm, 85kg
With a striking resemblance in his football to West Coast’s Luke Shuey, Nathan Freeman has long been considered by the Pies as a serious midfield threat. The Sandringham ball-magnet is a goal-kicking midfielder, who breaks lines and takes on the game at every opportunity. Freeman’s strong build has seen him develop his inside game, where he’s been highly regarded for his tackling ability and clearance work. It is however, on the outside of the pack where Freeman does his most damage. Taking possession of the ball and scooting off from congestion and breaking a game open. Freeman is a long penetrating kick, and often kicked more goals on the run from outside 50 than he did from a set shot. A tremendous talent who recorded some freakish times at the combine, displaying his athleticism, endurance and speed as all damaging factors.
Pick 65: TOM LANGDON (Sandringham Dragons, Vic) 189cm, 85kg
The Sandringham Captain this year found himself playing up in the VFL for the Zebras more often than at TAC Cup level. Langdon was initially overlooked last year, however bounced back hard in 2013, re-inventing himself as a defender/midfielder after making just a few cameo appearances in the midfield in 2012. Langdon is highly regarded for his kick rating, and is every bit an aerialist – taking plenty of marks (mostly contested) around the ground, whilst peeling off to always present an attacking option. A utility type who offers a bit of everything, Langdon finds a good amount of the pill and distributes is equally as well.
Pick 77: JONATHON MARSH (East Fremantle, WA) 192cm, 87kg
A bargain at this pick – Jonathon Marsh is all x-factor. The explosive key forward has electrifying pace and deft one-touch pick up’s at ground level which make him very much an excitement machine. Marsh has shown in patches that his strength through his hips and overhead, as well as his unstoppable speed can really separate him from the pack. He is however, very much a development prospect after only coming into football at Colts level in 2013. Marsh has plenty of raw attributes, his speed, strength, size and booming right foot are just a few, but was left to slide to pick 77 after majority of recruiters did not know where his best football would be played. Showed in his immense speed at the combine, running 2.78 seconds for the 20-meter sprint, narrowly missing the all-time record of 2.75, ranking his number one across the combine (Freeman was second). His repeated sprints tested third best overall (Freeman second) at 24.18 seconds. His highlights package against Northern Territory is like no other. If the Pies can get a handle on his consistency, he might just turn out to be one of the biggest draft steals.

 

[TradeDraft]

^^^

Thanks for Info and Article you Posted

 

[Ed D]

Like he's the first or only player to miss a shot on goal... you could say the same about Cloke... all I know is he's kicked a hell of a lot more goals than me at VFL/AFL level.

And I also find it amusing that people on these boards are worried about our lack of a crumbing forward... I'd argue that Sinclair (2013 squad & excluding recent recruits) was the 2nd best crumber at the club behind Krakouer.

I think it's different if you're running into goal with little pressure and miss from 30m out. It's excusable if it's something that doesn't happen on a regular occurrence, but that wasn't the case. He did improve slightly, but it certainly was noticeable that his kicking wasn't up to standard.

 

[Obese Arachnid]

Like he's the first or only player to miss a shot on goal... you could say the same about Cloke... all I know is he's kicked a hell of a lot more goals than me at VFL/AFL level.

And I also find it amusing that people on these boards are worried about our lack of a crumbing forward... I'd argue that Sinclair (2013 squad & excluding recent recruits) was the 2nd best crumber at the club behind Krakouer.

Being second best, when first is now gone is nothing to crow about. Especially when talking about OUR crumbing department.

On exposed form I'd still have Blair as number one since Krak is gone.

 

[Sunbot]

Being second best, when first is now gone is nothing to crow about. Especially when talking about OUR crumbing department.

On exposed form I'd still have Blair as number one since Krak is gone.

Agree. Blair has to go forward and leave the mid to others that have the height and pace to make it worthwhile. Also Blair picks up a lot of frees from sloppy head-highs and these should be in the 50 arc.

 

[well left]

Be really interested to watch Freeman develop. Seems he is already a player that may divide Pies fans.

We seem to have loaded up on players that can play mid and also on the flanks. Freeman looks a mid/ forward flanker and I think that is where he will start off. Versatility seems to be a priority.

In response to the posts above I think our best natural and talented crumber is Sidebottom. I'd be looking at playing him off a fwd flank with time in the midfield, possibly swapping with Swanny - another I'd like to see spend some time resting forward.

 

[TradeDraft]

Looking at his Photo looks a very Cheeky Type. Might get under some Opposition Players Skins

 

[Robroy22]

Looking at his Photo looks a very Cheeky Type. Might get under some Opposition Players Skins

Might run away from a few of them and kick a few goals...leave the "getting under people's skins" to the Ross Lyon sides thanks. Or just settle for the bruising other people's skins like Marley and Grundy do.

 

[blaze036]

Perfect get for the club at pick 10 imo, much better fit than Lennon.

Has a rare combination of elite speed and endurance, with the interchange cap coming in explosive players are going to become a much more rare and valuable commodity.

Has a great attitude, I think he has a big future and will be very exciting.

Will get games next year, can't wait.

 

[Baird]

Looking at his Photo looks a very Cheeky Type. Might get under some Opposition Players Skins

It's just a random photo lol

 

[jefffff34]

Looking at his Photo looks a very Cheeky Type. Might get under some Opposition Players Skins

Anybody that smiles is cheeky?

 

[Mick98]

Cocky looking bastard.


I like it

 

[DermiesLuvChild]

Can't wait to see him play.

 

[TradeDraft]

Perfect get for the club at pick 10 imo, much better fit than Lennon.

Has a rare combination of elite speed and endurance, with the interchange cap coming in explosive players are going to become a much more rare and valuable commodity.

Has a great attitude, I think he has a big future and will be very exciting.

Will get games next year, can't wait.

Yeah he can be a Great Sub as he can come and make a Difference with his Explosive Pace.

Though you would hope in time he can play a full game

 

[Somebody]

Adding to that, you can see in this photo he has a fairly wide torso and shoulders compared to the other guys apart from that freak Boyd.

There's only 9 in that photo....

 

[blaze036]

There's only 9 in that photo....

Norf's Mcdonald was in Utah for their training camp

 

[MyManLynch]

Norf's Mcdonald was in Utah for their training camp

Lucky he didn't go to Arizona for the Gold Coast training camp.