Freeman

[saintbrat]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2015-10-2 ... re-freeman

ST KILDA has secured pacey midfielder Nathan Freeman to a three-year deal after confirming a trade with Collingwood.

The Magpies will receive the Saints’ second round pick in the 2016 National Draft and selection No.63 in this year’s draft in exchange for Freeman and pick No.68.

Freeman was taken with pick No.10 at the 2013 National Draft which means St Kilda now has four of the top 19 players - all midfielders - from that draft (Jack Billings pick No.3, Luke Dunstan pick No.18 and Blake Acres pick No.19).

The arrival of the 20-year-old also means the Saints have recruited four top 10 draft picks in the past three years, having selected Paddy McCartin with pick No.1 in 2014, Billings in 2013 and Billy Longer via a trade with the Brisbane Lions who took him with pick No.8 in 2011.

As it stands the Saints still have picks 5, 24, 45, 68, 81, 99 and 117 at next month’s National Draft.

[saintsRrising]

63 to 68 means 53 ( 112 down to 59) less points for Rice as a FS.

We need enough points for Rice to stop our first round pick next year being bumped.

ie
Pick 9 = 1460 points
Pick 8 = 1551 points
Pick 7 = 1644 points
Pick 6 = 1751 points

While it depends excatly on where we finish, being short over 90-110ish points would bump us one place. 200-ish 2 places.

[saintbrat]

nice to have a player who Didn't dream of playing in black and white But dreamt of adding RED

Freeman grew up supporting the Saints and played for Vic Metro alongside Billings at the 2013 National Championships.

At the 2013 Draft Combine, Freeman came second in the 20-metre sprint with a time of 2.82 seconds which ranks in the top 10 times in the history of the combine. He also won the repeat-sprint test.

Nathan Freeman key stats:

Born: June 16, 1995

Height: 183cm

Weight: 83kg

Junior clubs: Dingley/Sandringham U18

[Bluthy]

Welcome Nathan. From Pies page:

Another genuine clearance specialist with elite endurance and pace, Freeman remains a great unknown to the Magpie Army after his injury-riddled 2014. The ex-Sandringham Dragon played only forty minutes of the first NAB Challenge match before succumbing to a hamstring strain that denied him the opportunity to play at any level for the remainder of the year. An accomplished ball-user on the outside with an explosive change of direction, Freeman also has the ability to find his own ball with his strong build and ability to read the contest. He began the 2015 pre-season in fine style, winning the two-kilometre time trial run by the first-to-fourth year players and finishing second behind Steele Sidebottom when the whole team undertook the test only a few weeks later. One to watch in 2015.

Sounds brilliant on paper. Lets hope his hammies hold out.

[saintbrat]

Luke Holmesby ‏@LukeHolmesby

Luke Holmesby Retweeted St Kilda FC
Sometimes you need to add some colour to your life. Things aren't always black and white. Welcome aboard, Nathan. Luke Holmesby added,

St Kilda FC @stkildafc
Welcome @nathfreeman9!

MORE: http://stk.lt/FreemanASaint

[ace]

Not a Collingwood SERF any more.

[SemperFidelis]

Luke Holmesby ‏@LukeHolmesby

Luke Holmesby Retweeted St Kilda FC
Sometimes you need to add some colour to your life. Things aren't always black and white. Welcome aboard, Nathan. Luke Holmesby added,

St Kilda FC @stkildafc
Welcome @nathfreeman9!

MORE: http://stk.lt/FreemanASaint

Love it. Thrilled to have another player who genuinely wants to be part of our club. Good luck to him (and us!)

[bergholt]

That looks like a very high price. Next year's second round pick is likely to be 20-25, and we also threw in some extra points by trading down our 60s pick. That values him somewhere between Jack Redden (pick 17) and Jake Melksham (pick 25).

The kid hasn't even played a game! Obviously we rate him very highly. We'd better be right.

[The Fireman]

Why next years and not this years?

I don't feel comfortable trading future picks, lets say the club finishes last.

The only hope supporters get is getting new talent through the draft, but trading that away the year before leaves that year pretty meh

:/

I dont like giving things to the Skunks.......Harvey being there makes me feel ill and that Rat Ball..well .......

[spert]

Watched his highlight reel, and does remind me of a young C Judd.

[saintbrat]

That looks like a very high price. Next year's first round pick is likely to be 20-25, and we also threw in some extra points by trading down our 60s pick. That values him somewhere between Jack Redden (pick 17) and Jake Melksham (pick 25).

The kid hasn't even played a game! Obviously we rate him very highly. We'd better be right.

it's next years second round pick- we still have next years 1st round..will be anything from 8- 12

[bergholt]

That looks like a very high price. Next year's first round pick is likely to be 20-25, and we also threw in some extra points by trading down our 60s pick. That values him somewhere between Jack Redden (pick 17) and Jake Melksham (pick 25).

The kid hasn't even played a game! Obviously we rate him very highly. We'd better be right.

it's next years second round pick- we still have next years 1st round..will be anything from 8- 12

Good point, thanks, fixed. But I disagree, we'll definitely finish bottom five next year, we're just not ready yet. Trading away a pick from the first two rounds in any year is a lot to pay.

[saintsRrising]

That looks like a very high price. Next year's first round pick is likely to be 20-25, and we also threw in some extra points by trading down our 60s pick. That values him somewhere between Jack Redden (pick 17) and Jake Melksham (pick 25).

The kid hasn't even played a game! Obviously we rate him very highly. We'd better be right.

Why very high?

Originally a pick 10. Discounted due to injury issues.

[Goose is king]

And it was pick 10 in a super strong draft

[saintbrat]

Blake Acres ‏@AcresBlake
Good to have you on board @nathfreeman9 #GoSaints

[saintsRrising]

And it was pick 10 in a super strong draft

Exactly. I think it is a "fair" price, and if we can get his body right one hat in later years we are going to be be very happy about.

We have been crying out for a very quick mid, and Freeman fits the bll making him actually woth more to us as we severlely lack that type of player.

Second Round picks are always speculative (actually every pick is). Look at White and Wright!

[bergholt]

That looks like a very high price. Next year's first round pick is likely to be 20-25, and we also threw in some extra points by trading down our 60s pick. That values him somewhere between Jack Redden (pick 17) and Jake Melksham (pick 25).

The kid hasn't even played a game! Obviously we rate him very highly. We'd better be right.

Why very high?

Originally a pick 10. Discounted due to injury issues.

Because pick 20ish is a high price for anyone. Jack Redden is a 24 year old with 100+ games under his belt who averages 23+ possessions, and he only cost pick 17. Melksham was originally pick 10 and is also 24 with 100+ games, he only cost pick 25.

There's so much information asymmetry here. All we know is that he was originally pick 10, what we've seen in 4 VFL games, and some info from a medical that we ran him through. While the Pies know the specifics of his injury history, what his attitude has been like, how his psych testing and physical attributes have progressed since he was drafted.

Paying a price this high assumes that: his injuries are going to completely clear up, he's coachable, he's physically going to keep developing, his attitude is high enough quality for AFL, etc etc etc. I really hope we're right on that.

[Bluthy]

He does look quick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS7nd3_20Lc I can see why his hammies get under pressure. Bit of the Jack Steven about him - could be a good link up player. Kicking looked pretty good.

[ripplug66]

Seems about exactly where I thought he would go. Had to be a second rounder as he was never getting to about a pick 45 after being 10 2 years ago. If his body is right we have a ready made AFL footballer who will right for round one.

[derby Street]

Has anybody actually seen him play in the flesh and what are their thoughts? I don't take too much notice of highlight reels as they can be misleading (White ?) A bit of a gamble by the club and if his hammies don't hold up there will be plenty on here screaming for blood. Personally I think it was a risk worth taking.

[White Winmar]

Welcome Nathan. From Pies page:

Another genuine clearance specialist with elite endurance and pace, Freeman remains a great unknown to the Magpie Army after his injury-riddled 2014. The ex-Sandringham Dragon played only forty minutes of the first NAB Challenge match before succumbing to a hamstring strain that denied him the opportunity to play at any level for the remainder of the year. An accomplished ball-user on the outside with an explosive change of direction, Freeman also has the ability to find his own ball with his strong build and ability to read the contest. He began the 2015 pre-season in fine style, winning the two-kilometre time trial run by the first-to-fourth year players and finishing second behind Steele Sidebottom when the whole team undertook the test only a few weeks later. One to watch in 2015.

Sounds brilliant on paper. Lets hope his hammies hold out.

Let's hope his hammies are not made of paper.

[ripplug66]

Has anybody actually seen him play in the flesh and what are their thoughts? I don't take too much notice of highlight reels as they can be misleading (White ?) A bit of a gamble by the club and if his hammies don't hold up there will be plenty on here screaming for blood. Personally I think it was a risk worth taking.

Never seen him at an AFL club but saw him maybe 10 times at TAC level as my god son played with him for 2 years. I like him a lot and I think I wanted him back when the draft was on but he was never a pick 3 so I knew we couldn't get him. Great burst of speed. I think he is probably like Jack which would be great.

[derby Street]

Has anybody actually seen him play in the flesh and what are their thoughts? I don't take too much notice of highlight reels as they can be misleading (White ?) A bit of a gamble by the club and if his hammies don't hold up there will be plenty on here screaming for blood. Personally I think it was a risk worth taking.

Never seen him at an AFL club but saw him maybe 10 times at TAC level as my god son played with him for 2 years. I like him a lot and I think I wanted him back when the draft was on but he was never a pick 3 so I knew we couldn't get him. Great burst of speed. I think he is probably like Jack which would be great.

If he is half as good as Jack then it will be a good trade.

[Sainternist]

It's a great opportunity for him. He'll be stoked having Richo as his new coach instead of FIGJAM.

[saintsRrising]

Because pick 20ish is a high price for anyone. Jack Redden is a 24 year old with 100+ games under his belt who averages 23+ possessions, and he only cost pick 17. Melksham was originally pick 10 and is also 24 with 100+ games, he only cost pick 25.

There's so much information asymmetry here. All we know is that he was originally pick 10, what we've seen in 4 VFL games, and some info from a medical that we ran him through. While the Pies know the specifics of his injury history, what his attitude has been like, how his psych testing and physical attributes have progressed since he was drafted.

Paying a price this high assumes that: his injuries are going to completely clear up, he's coachable, he's physically going to keep developing, his attitude is high enough quality for AFL, etc etc etc. I really hope we're right on that.

I do too.

However Freeman is not a player that just bobbed up. We have chased him overa substantial period of time and I would assume that means that the Saints Staff and Doctors will have donea lot of research, and not just one quick medical.

I know Jesse Smith did not work out, but we paid only peanuts for him as the risk was high in his case.

As an aside I know one of the Saints ex-Club Doctors and he used to be horrified on how Bevo would on occasion recommend players without proper medical inverstagaition/clearance first even when there was cause to do so.