Player Watch Nathan Freeman

[The Royal Sampler]

Reported on the cfc website that the surgery was a success, found some scar tissue attached to the tendon. Explains his discomfort with the hammy, and advised will be right to go as soon as he has recovered from the op. Hoping it's not too long, would have been nice to give an eta on the surgery recovery time.
Best possible result

The journal article I linked to earlier mentioned that at 2 weeks follow-up, 100% of patients reported improved hamstring strength, and 71% had normal hamstring strength in comparison to the non-operated side. Now I know I've made some assumptions re: the specific type of surgery he's had, but you wouldn't think he'd be back playing until at the very least his hamstring strength was equal left-to-right, and they'd want to minimize any infection risk, so it seems logical to conclude he'll miss two weeks at the absolute minimum.

 

[swoop42]

I wonder if the surgery was as much about easing the doubts playing on Freeman's mind as it was easing the tension on his tendon.

Either way I hope he returns feeling more confident in his body.

 

[TradeDraft]

The journal article I linked to earlier mentioned that at 2 weeks follow-up, 100% of patients reported improved hamstring strength, and 71% had normal hamstring strength in comparison to the non-operated side. Now I know I've made some assumptions re: the specific type of surgery he's had, but you wouldn't think he'd be back playing until at the very least his hamstring strength was equal left-to-right, and they'd want to minimize any infection risk, so it seems logical to conclude he'll miss two weeks at the absolute minimum.

So he is 3-5 weeks away?

 

[jmac70]

So he is 3-5 weeks away?

Maybe yes...and maybe no.

 

[pablo disco bar]

I wonder if the surgery was as much about easing the doubts playing on Freeman's mind as it was easing the tension on his tendon.

Either way I hope he returns feeling more confident in his body.

Maybe he needed to rub one out..

 

[Jonno94]

Good news, hopefully he can start playing some good footy when he gets back.

 

[PendlePie]

The journal article I linked to earlier mentioned that at 2 weeks follow-up, 100% of patients reported improved hamstring strength, and 71% had normal hamstring strength in comparison to the non-operated side. Now I know I've made some assumptions re: the specific type of surgery he's had, but you wouldn't think he'd be back playing until at the very least his hamstring strength was equal left-to-right, and they'd want to minimize any infection risk, so it seems logical to conclude he'll miss two weeks at the absolute minimum.

I'd be surprised if he was back into training within 4 weeks - and we should all be okay with that. If recovery goes well and he plays 3-4 weeks of VFL with a view to putting his hand up for selection around Round 15/16, then that would be a fantastic result.

 

[ClaytonM]

Maybe yes...and maybe no.

Are you sure?

 

[35Daicos]

It will be a great story if he comes back "reborn" (as he should), and fairly quickly starts playing the sort of football our recruiters obviously believe he is capable of.

With so many highly rated young prospects pushing for a senior spot already, it would be wonderful if his name could be added to the list later this year.

 

[PepperFace]

I am still optimistic on this guy. Has been hampered by injuries up to now in his AFL career. We know from all the pre-season talk he is a gifted athlete and from the pics he is physically ready to go. Im happy to be patient and see how he goes.

 

[Pera]

Kids still only 19. Be patient, he'll come good. I'm as excited now as I was when we recruited him.

 

[TradeDraft]

Kids still only 19. Be patient, he'll come good. I'm as excited now as I was when we recruited him.

as Long as he stays away from Injuries

 

[DAWESOME!!]

Sounds like a really positive result from the exploratory surgery - found something fixable and fixed it. Worst outcome would have been not finding anything that explained his issues.

Get well soon Nath and come back and show us what you can do.

 

[surfer1]

Are you sure?

Maybe I am but then again maybe I aint

 

[surfer1]

as Long as he stays away from Injuries

Come on Dave be positive like you always are

 

[jmac70]

Maybe I am but then again maybe I aint

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Kids still only 19. Be patient, he'll come good. I'm as excited now as I was when we recruited him.

My excitement at the time of his recruitment was more muted than your own, though this in no way implies criticism of the optimism and positivity you have invested in Freeman's potential and future.

We went for outside speed with Freeman. Emma Quayle had him going to Melbourne, with us taking Cameron McCarthy or Salem. She made him seem more appealing than Knightmare, who in turn is probably more forthcoming in acknowledging his misgivings with a player.

12. NATHAN FREEMAN

(Sand. Dragons, 184cm, 85kg)

There's not a lot of explosive speed in this draft, but Freeman has it. He likes to take off with a shake of his hips, and attack. His challenge this year was been to pick up his disposal efficiency, to handball a little more and to improve the defensive side of his game, and he's worked hard in all areas. He's strong, keeps his feet, plays like he loves it and is always looking to get involved.

Who will pick him? He or Salem would be a perfect fit for Melbourne at pick 9. Should be drafted somewhere from pick 9-13.

13. CAMERON McCARTHY

(South Fremantle, 194cm, 83kg)

There's a bit of mystery about McCarthy, who played footy as a kid but had a few years away playing cricket and went back to footy only this year. He kicked a bunch of goals, was drafted into the WA under-18 and kicked even more. He was bold, he attacked the ball, he showed a natural knack for reading the ball and getting into good positions. Then he fractured his leg and didn't play again. A relaxed kid; nothing fazes him. Raw, and will have a heap to learn once he gets to his club, but with huge potential. Pack marking forwards are not easy to find.

Who will pick him? He's been linked most strongly to Collingwood and Brisbane at 6 and 7, with the Lions more likely. West Coast is a chance too, and he's probably the one player who would sway Carlton from choosing an onballer at 13.

It is interesting that Emma linked McCarthy with Collingwood and Freeman with Melbourne. I guess we figured an explosive outside mid was more vital to the club's on-field success than another tall forward who she describes as a pack marking forward, not the third tall like Gunston that has been likened to McCarthy by posters in this thread. A pack marking forward who can kick would be handy at Collingwood.

Emma also had Bontempelli at 11, Aish at 3, Ben Lennon at 9 and Trent Dumont at 15 when he went at 30, so she got a few wrong. Freeman would want to make good of his career, because those drafted before and many who came after him have already impressed. Let's hope our resident medical experts are correct in their diagnosis and forecasts.

 

[ThePhantom777]

Good news on the Freeman Front!!

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2015-05-13/freemans-surgery-a-success

 

[Lefthanded]

Petracca done his knee.
Melbourne really stuffed up their #1 pick.
They wouldn't have chosen him if they knew.
Some people here haven't got a clue.
Just get off the kids back.
No one injures themselves intentionally.
Hamstring injuries happen to players with express speed.
Ricky Barham used to regularly injure his hammy, but was also one of our best players in his era.
Judge Freeman when he gets fully fit instead of bagging him.
The same big mouths will probably be on his bandwagon once he is fit and firing.

With DT surfing you have to wonder?

 

[Brad Goodman]

Freeman would want to make good of his career, because those drafted before and many who came after him have already impressed. Let's hope our resident medical experts are correct in their diagnosis and forecasts.

The quality of his career should be assessed only on how he performs. The careers of those drafted near him are irrelevant.

 

[dazzledavey36]

Hey lads hows Freeman coming along? Is he a chance to return this year?

 

[Pie in the Sky]

Hey lads hows Freeman coming along? Is he a chance to return this year?

Should be back in a few weeks, just recovering from surgery to remove scar tissue, think he's listed as 2-3?

 

[loki04]

I am still optimistic on this guy. Has been hampered by injuries up to now in his AFL career. We know from all the pre-season talk he is a gifted athlete and from the pics he is physically ready to go. Im happy to be patient and see how he goes.

Can't fit him in anyway.

The teams too good, no one wants to drop anyone.

No matter how well they perform in the 2s or how good they could be, need to keep pumping games into our work horses and should be depth.

 

[ace andy]

My excitement at the time of his recruitment was more muted than your own, though this in no way implies criticism of the optimism and positivity you have invested in Freeman's potential and future.

We went for outside speed with Freeman. Emma Quayle had him going to Melbourne, with us taking Cameron McCarthy or Salem. She made him seem more appealing than Knightmare, who in turn is probably more forthcoming in acknowledging his misgivings with a player.
.

Yeah I was never that excited at the time by Freeman either. I thought the top 7 or 8 (up to Aish were really exciting) were great and loved Scharenburg but from Salem on I wasn't that fussed.

 

[soreplums]

Yeah I was never that excited at the time by Freeman either. I thought the top 7 or 8 (up to Aish were really exciting) were great and loved Scharenburg but from Salem on I wasn't that fussed.

Once the word was out that Bontempelli would go to the dogs at 4, we were tossing up between Sharenberg and Aish, with Aish the outside chance of still being there at 10. However, we would have gone Salem ahead of Freeman if we had the choice. A lot of reports had Melbourne taking Freeman at 9