Player Watch Nathan Freeman

[The Pied Piper]

Leigh Matthews said on 3AW tonight that we should make a stand and send Freeman to the draft.

He was making the point that clubs need to send a strong message to players that they're not going to invest time and money developing them if they're just going to walk out.

I actually agree with him. Screw the trade, if Freeman wants to be a campaigner, send him to the draft and let Carlton or Brisbane have him. It's either us or them.

We need to make a stand.

(Robroy22 I've come around a bit after listening to Matthews).

I can understand Matthews' point, but I don't believe we need to send a message to other players that way. Freeman is who he is, he chose the easy option. It is not going to influence what anyone else will do.

I'm no expert in hamstring tendon injuries other than when they're serious (that serious) then surgery would be the right way to go (mine was two thirds ruptured .. taking the dogs for a walk .. true story), no surgery cos I'm no Olympic Sprinter, BUT apparently it was deemed he was too young for surgery in year 1. If that was the expert advice, then that explains why there was no surgery, but the ongoing setbacks to my lamens brain seem an obvious thing if an older player in the same scenario would have gone under the knife. Scar tissue - obvious.

'Perceived lack of opportunity' - if that isn't the biggest load of bulldust. It basically means he's come to his own conclusion on that, regardless of what the club has said, so the story goes ...

 

[Vampire013]

Kevin Sheahan who is as a noted AFL Talent scout and expert on junior footballers mentioned today on: TAC Cup Future Stars that Freeman did have some injury history as a junior.
Did not really pay attention to everything he said because I was just surfing channels.
Was watching the TAC Cup final.
Who knows, he might have some sort of chronic hammy problems?

 

[The Pied Piper]

Maybe his training program at the Saints will consist mainly of beach work, and water walking. In horse racing speak he'd be classified as an unsound galloper, in which case this program would suit better. Don't believe the Holden Centre had a beach, nor water walker, correct me if I'm wrong. They will call on specislist Mornington Peninsula trainer Pat Carey to assist with the program.

 

[10571z]

Unless we get something higher than 25 just make him go into the draft.

 

[HFF]

He's just a kid with a pushy parent I'm afraid. Let another club have him and they can sort dad out.
I'd actually rather take his manager to task....
Can we blackball Connors or does he handle half the team?

I repeat....can anyone tell me one "gun" that Connors has directed our way?

If he does have a pushy parent, then that's to his own detriment.

As for Connors, he has pushed Luke Ball, Chris Tarrant back our way the second time, Darren Jolly too I believe.
2010 was a good year for us.

 

[Robroy22]

If he does have a pushy parent, then that's to his own detriment.

As for Connors, he has pushed Luke Ball, Chris Tarrant back our way the second time, Darren Jolly too I believe.
2010 was a good year for us.

Wow....so he brought us LB through the draft and Jolly who's wife is the driving force in his management? And a guy who always wanted to be there anyway?
And who has he moved away?

 

[HFF]

Wow....so he brought us LB through the draft and Jolly who's wife is the driving force in his management? And a guy who always wanted to be there anyway?
And who has he moved away?

You can look at it anyway you like but they're his clients.

In recent times only one of note was Dayne Beams that I can think of.

 

[Robroy22]

Do you know which other Pies players Connor's manages?
Wouldn't mind keeping an eye on them

 

[ace andy]

How anyone with pace picked in the top 10 of a strong draft could conclude that there may not be a spot for him is beyond my understanding. I am afraid that I can find nothing within me that wishes Freeman the best of luck at a new club. I actually wish him a continuation of his current situation throughout the rest of what I hope will be a short career. I would like to smile more benignly upon him but cannot find it in me to do so. After the club nursed him through 2 years of injury and rehab, I thought that he might be hell bent on repaying the hope and faith of Collingwood fans next year. Apparently not.

We he hasn't actually said this but I would think reading between the lines it makes far more sense that he is unhappy with how we managed his injury. Not saying that we did stuff it up but that it makes sense if HE thinks that. If that was really his reason then why would he want to repay the faith in him when he might think we ruined his career.

 

[Ant85]

How anyone with pace picked in the top 10 of a strong draft could conclude that there may not be a spot for him is beyond my understanding. I am afraid that I can find nothing within me that wishes Freeman the best of luck at a new club. I actually wish him a continuation of his current situation throughout the rest of what I hope will be a short career. I would like to smile more benignly upon him but cannot find it in me to do so. After the club nursed him through 2 years of injury and rehab, I thought that he might be hell bent on repaying the hope and faith of Collingwood fans next year. Apparently not.

Sums up my sentiments perfectly.

 

[larrikan]

Lack of opportunity...BS!! BenKen/PK=lack of opportunity or didn't take it when they got it. I'm sorry, how many BOG's has this sorry excuse for a prima donna footballer had at our great club? He is going to St Scum because of their lack of midfield depth. I'm with Matthews - send him to the preseason draft if they are not coming to the party. Force him to look ridiculous putting a price on his sad arse of a body. What a joke this untried player is! And we were going to send him to Germany to help his recovery!

This is nothing like the Treloar deal. This bloke HAS NOT played AFL football. FFS Ben Ken must be thinking what a joke this bloke. I can understand him saying he wants opportunities at a lesser club but Freeman - what a joke!

Don't want him at the Pies...he will be boo ed and he can go elsewhere and blame his lack of AFL career on us. Bitter me? nah, just think there are great young men at our club who are being patient instead of this entitled joke of a boy.

 

[South of the Yarra]

Get over yourself kid.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

'Perceived lack of opportunity' - if that isn't the biggest load of bulldust. It basically means he's come to his own conclusion on that, regardless of what the club has said, so the story goes ...

PieBeast gave us the good oil on this before the announcement.

es I know, see my post to Maggie.
Can't argue with your last sentence either, in fact Freeman himself stated the competition for spots as the primary reason for possible departure.
But the prevailing opinion on here is he's a money hungry little shit campaigner.....

And about the medical complaints:

I've passed on only what he told me on Sunday and don't deal in innuendo.

But later ITT I did point to the fact and linked my post on Nicks at the time about Freeman attributing at least some of the blame to being "overloaded" immediately after his initial injury at the start of 2014.
His last tweet in regards to Menzel's comeback contains the line "footy can be cruel sometimes", probably his way of expressing frustration of missing 2 years himself.
So I haven't been told and can't tell you whether he feels his injury treatment by us has been substandard but it's obviously not out of the realms of possibility.

 

[35Daicos]

Do you know which other Pies players Connor's manages?
Wouldn't mind keeping an eye on them

Grundy and Sidebottom have their pictures on this page so I'd say they are:-

http://connorssports.com.au/clients/

 

[Pedro]

Agree wholeheartedly.

Although people here are frying Connors, could it be that Connors also advised Freeman to stay with us? I recall reading Connors saying somewhere he had given Freeman his advice on what he should do, without stipulating what it was, but it just gave me a hunch he might have counselled against the walk-out.

I recall that and I got the same impression

 

[Crazy Tails]

I recall that and I got the same impression

Add me to that camp too. I thought the same.

 

[TradeDraft]

Grundy and Sidebottom have their pictures on this page so I'd say they are:-

http://connorssports.com.au/clients/

Well I remember Grundy Signed very Early

 

[Ketchup]

What Connors does is what is in the best interest of their client, but at the end of the day, his client has the end decision, If Freeman had decided he wanted to stay at Collingwood for 200k, he would be at Collingwood. Clubs and managers have to work with each other, theres no way they would deliberately go out and piss each other off. And even if they did I think it would be water under a bridge very fast.

 

[Robroy22]

What Connors does is what is in the best interest of their client, but at the end of the day, his client has the end decision, If Freeman had decided he wanted to stay at Collingwood for 200k, he would be at Collingwood. Clubs and managers have to work with each other, theres no way they would deliberately go out and piss each other off. And even if they did I think it would be water under a bridge very fast.

That's all very well Ketch....but we're talking about 17-19 year old kids here. More likely that managers are talking more with parents alongside their boys and in a lot of cases, what the managers and the parents push....the kids will do.

The idea that clubs and managers "wouldn't piss each other off" is also nice.....but do you think Pickering is a favourite son at Hawthorn after what he did with Buddy? I know lots of business managers that wouldn't think twice about loyalty if it meant a large bonus on their bottom line. And remember....if you piss off one club, you've generally made someone else VERY HAPPY.....and that there are 17 other clubs anyway....

managers=parasites=necessary?=nup.

 

[Ketchup]

That's all very well Ketch....but we're talking about 17-19 year old kids here. More likely that managers are talking more with parents alongside their boys and in a lot of cases, what the managers and the parents push....the kids will do.

The idea that clubs and managers "wouldn't piss each other off" is also nice.....but do you think Pickering is a favourite son at Hawthorn after what he did with Buddy? I know lots of business managers that wouldn't think twice about loyalty if it meant a large bonus on their bottom line. And remember....if you piss off one club, you've generally made someone else VERY HAPPY.....and that there are 17 other clubs anyway....

managers=parasites=necessary?=nup.

But that's still up to an individual, at the end of the day, Nathan Freeman is an adult, hes old enough to make his own decision. He made the one that plants him at another club, Connors is just the man who has to stimulate a deal that his client requested.

It's quite ironic using Pickering as the example, the recent suggestions in media and on this board is sending Aish to Hawthorn, who is managed by Pickering. Think Hawthorn is going to decide not to recruit a player because hes managed by Pickering? Still, it's the same as Freeman, at the end of the day, Buddy decided to make a move out of the Melbourne sinkhole so he can live a life not quite as reported. Buddy tells Pickering hes interested in going to Sydney so he has to go facilitate a move for his client. No one knows what Pickering said to Buddy, and chances are no one ever will. But let's say Pickering is managing Pendlebury. Pendlebury would get a 1.2 million dollar offer from someone in the open market, but he doesn't want to leave. There's not much point in the manager talking about other deals if the player doesn't want them.

I have no doubt that some managers will try and make moves on behalf of their clients to try and give themselves a healthy bonus, but I wouldn't think the big ones like Connors or Pickering would have to worry about that anyway as they have ample clients. And still, at the end of the day a player has to decide to make a move. I'll always go back to it, if Freeman wanted to be at Collingwood, or Buddy wanted to be at Hawthorn or even Greenwood wanted to be at North Melbourne, all three were wanted players, and all three would still be at the club.

 

[TradeDraft]

What Connors does is what is in the best interest of their client, but at the end of the day, his client has the end decision, If Freeman had decided he wanted to stay at Collingwood for 200k, he would be at Collingwood. Clubs and managers have to work with each other, theres no way they would deliberately go out and piss each other off. And even if they did I think it would be water under a bridge very fast.

and Shows that Freeman did NOT want to be at Collingwood

 

[larrikan]

It's Connor's role to look after his client. He should know his client and what his wishes are. If a club is willing to pay $300,000 for a client that's worth $150,000-200,000 then the market price is $300,000. He will get commission on that and he must inform his client, the player, what his current market value is. If that club is promising game time to an untried player then he must inform him. As mercenary as it seems, he is paid to look after his client not be loyal to any other party in the market.

Collingwood also have a role to protect the clubs interests. Only they know what they pay other players-most would have played games at AFL speed and pressure-Freeman hasn't.

Facts: Freeman has not played AFL football. He may have chronic injuries-we were apparently sending him to Germany for medical assistance which basically says we have tried everything. His potential value has lessened since being a top ten draft pick two years ago because of injuries and lack of recovery.

Collingwood sees Freeman as an investment in the future. We had faith to highly rate him two years ago. We have been patient with his recovery. The Pies believe they should set the market price for a player who they have been paying for the past two years for no reward.

Connor's would be negligent not to inform Freeman what other clubs will pay him. Freeman has the ultimate decision. Not surprisingly, the generation of entitlement wants instant gratification. The Saints will say-here's how much we will pay you and this is how we will fix your hammy's-we would never do what the Pies did to you. More money;quick fix!

Collingwood have better knowledge of his injury history and his attitude to recovery than the Saints. Collingwood's market value would reflect their player payments and his future potential. They may think pick 24 is a hit and run for an injured player, especially as they may have a trade in mind to use it for.

As supporters, we must accept that injuries robbed us of a top 10 draft pick. My hope is that, like Thomas, we know his injuries make him not worth the money another club will pay him.

Personally, I'm with the club on this one. Freeman has a cheek coming to us and demanding a pay rise when we have been paying him for two years believing he is part of our future.

 

[Kappa]

That's all very well Ketch....but we're talking about 17-19 year old kids here. More likely that managers are talking more with parents alongside their boys and in a lot of cases, what the managers and the parents push....the kids will do.

The idea that clubs and managers "wouldn't piss each other off" is also nice.....but do you think Pickering is a favourite son at Hawthorn after what he did with Buddy? I know lots of business managers that wouldn't think twice about loyalty if it meant a large bonus on their bottom line. And remember....if you piss off one club, you've generally made someone else VERY HAPPY.....and that there are 17 other clubs anyway....

managers=parasites=necessary?=nup.

You think a 19 year old kid is gonna choose clubs based on what his parents want..

Not sure if serious...

 

[Robroy22]

You think a 19 year old kid is gonna choose clubs based on what his parents want..

Not sure if serious...

Hmmm.....now let me see....I know of at least three I can recall in the last three years that have done exactly that. Parents warned them against going to Essendon FC or the GCFC and they were eventually drafted by other sides. So yes, I'd contend that young men do listen to what their parents advise them to do.

 

[76woodenspooners]

And who has he moved away?

Dale Thomas ...

... And we should be eternally grateful to Connors for that!