St Kilda Senior Coach Alan Richardson has given off-season recruit Nathan Freeman his strongest endorsement yet, labelling the injury ravaged midfielder as someone of outstanding character who is instilled with the power to endure hardship.
Since being recruited by Collingwood with pick No. 10 in the 2013 National Draft, Freeman has been plagued by persistent hamstring injuries that have limited him to less than a handful of VFL appearances. After crossing to the Saints during last October’s trade period, Freeman has continued to struggle with the problem.
It remains unclear when the 20-year-old will commence full training, let alone play a game, but Richardson has thrown his support around Freeman, tipping the onballer will return from the sustained period of frustration as a better player.
“We don’t really know an enormous amount about their character (pre-recruitment). You do a lot of work on that, but it’s not until they’re in your program that you get a real sense about the quality of the person,” Richardson told reporters on Tuesday.
“He’s a ripper. He’s made of the right stuff. I’ve got no doubt he’ll endure and he’ll be better for it.
“There’s no doubt that it’s a challenge, it’s a journey for him. We knew that when we got him to the footy club. (When) you get a player in that’s had two years of consistent injury, it’s going to take a while.”
With today marking the first day of March, Round 1 is looming close on the horizon, and as is always the case at this time of year, the urgency surrounding players returning from injury heightens.
But for Richardson and St Kilda, Freeman will not be rushed whatsoever. They view the speed-endurance midfielder as a long-term investment, someone who will play a role in the clubs pursuit of an elusive second premiership.
“He’s here for the long-term, he’s not here for Round 1, he’s not here for a particular game, he’s here for a career that might take a little while to get going,” Richardson added.
“But we’re okay with that, we knew that. And he’s going really well.”
In the face of adversity, which has drawn more scrutiny that it otherwise would have in different circumstances, Richardson lauded Freeman’s attitude and his ability to put his best foot forward day after day.
“I would think a person with less character, with less drive, less commitment to being the player that we want him to be would be struggling, but that’s not the case,” he said.
“He’s embracing everything our conditioning guys are throwing at him and he’s champing at the bit. We’re having to hold him back a bit and that’s positive.”
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